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Contenido archivado el 2023-03-27

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Second phase of the TEDIS programme (Trade electronic data interchange systems), 1991-1994

 
This second phase of the TEDIS programme continues and expands the activities carried out under the initial two-year programme (1988-1989).

During its first phase TEDIS coordinated a number of projects launched at the initiative of various sectors of European industry with the aim of implementing EDI, such as ODETTE (European motor industry), CEFIC-EDI (chemical industry), EDICICE (electronics and computer industries), EAN-COM (distribution and retail trade), RINET (reinsurance), TEDIS Transport Group, etc. It has provided logistical support for these industrial groupings and encourages the transfer of information between them.

TEDIS has made a substantial contribution to the unification of standards by the support of EDIFACT. Through the secretariat of the EDIFACT Board, it has helped to encourage work on bringing international standards on EDI into line by taking an active part and giving its support to the work of the Western European EDIFACT Board. The Commission EDIFACT Board Information System (CEBIS) has also been developed under the programme to assist the work of the EDIFACT board.

Close ties have been forged with national committees for the simplification of trade procedures (COMPROS). TEDIS participates in the meetings of these bodies to coordinate initiatives on EDI. Furthermore, an "EDIFORUM" has been set up in a number of Member States and good relations have been established with these.
To ensure that electronic data interchange systems are established to the best effect, in view of the socio- economic importance of such systems, and to mobilize the necessary resources to achieve this end at Community level.
Seven areas:

- Standardization of EDI messages:
. Support the development work of the international EDIFACT standard, in particular the work of the EDIFACT Board for Western Europe; coordinate work regarding elaboration of EDIFACT messages and provide the necessary technical assistance;
. Supply the appropriate means to ensure conformity to EDIFACT of messages and of conversion software;
. Adapt, if necessary, the EDIFACT standard to take account of the new developments in EDI;
.Support "migration" towards the use of international standards and particularly towards the use of EDIFACT;
- Seek compatibility between the American standard ANSI X12 and the international EDIFACT standard;

- Specific EDI needs as regards telecommunications:
. Make proposals for improving technical interconnectivity between EDI users in Europe;
. Encourage the increased use of integrated services digital networks for EDI;
. Favour the gathering of the EDI interest groups dealing with telecommunications aspects;
. Encourage the practice of "one-stop shopping/billing" concepts in EDI;

- Legal aspects of EDI:
. Finalize the draft European EDI agreement;
. Investigate the constraints and needs of a legal nature in specific areas;
. Undertake the legal analysis of media and means of storage and of the electronic signatures for EDI messages;
. Prepare a discussion document and define a proposal on the adaptation and harmonization of European legislations with regard to the use of EDI;
. Ensure that functions accomplished by EDI messages are also valid for functions of a legal and reglementary nature;
. Analyse the impact of EDI messages on the traditional functions of negotiability;
. Follow the issues of data protection and confidential data in connection with specific needs arising from the development of EDI;
. Ensure the coordination between Member States on EDI-related legal matters and participate in the international coordination;

- Security of EDI messages:
. Create an informal expert group in this specific area;
. Organize yearly workshops on the security of EDI messages;
. Increase the awareness of EDI users to EDI message security;
. Facilitate the development of EDI security procedures, methods, services and standards;
. Examine user environment constraints and risks and investigate an appropriate EDI security model;
. Examine the security requirements related to new forms of EDI and the impact of new technologies;
. Evaluate the services and products available to ensure the security of EDI messages, and if necessary examine the question of certification;
. Examine from the EDI security viewpoint open multi-service environments;

- Multi-sector and Europe-wide projects:
. Establish and keep up-to-date a permanent inventory of existing or potential EDI projects in Europe;
. Ensure the coordination of sectoral projects to meet industry and user needs;
. Support the development of an intersectoral forum for EDI measures;
. Encourage the launch of intersectoral projects to meet industry and user needs;
. Encourage the participation of national administrations and Community institutions in the intersectoral projects;
. Support the promotion of EDI systems to ensure wider use of EDI in Europe;
. Identify long-term actions to stimulate and interface EDI systems in countries of the Mediterranean and in Central and Eastern Europe;

- Analysis of the impact of EDI on company management:
. Identify and analyse changes in management and organization methods brought about by EDI (particularly in SMEs);
. Examine the economic and social effects of EDI;
. Measure the cost benefit of introducing EDI in private or public sectors;
. Elaboration of a general implantation model of EDI in administrations, private and public enterprises;
. Study the opportuneness of setting up a mechanism of coordination at European level with regard to intercompany relations based on EDI;

- Information campaigns:
. Conduct regular surveys on the development of EDI in Europe and of available EDI products and services;
. Undertake detailed studies of certain countries, regions or industrial sectors;
. Publish the studies, analyses and other results of actions undertaken in the programme;
. Support the setting up of national and/or regional awareness centres;
. Encourage actions designed to make SMEs more aware of EDI.
The Commission is responsible for implementing the programme, assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.

Implementation of the programme shall be coordinated with existing or planned Community policies and activities concerning telecommunications, particularly in respect, where necessary, of initiatives under the Open Network Provision (ONP) Framework Directive (90/387/EEC), the information market (IMPACT programme), security of information systems and standardization, and in particular with the CADDIA programme and the CD project, so as to ensure the necessary interaction with the specific requirements of the exchange of electronic data.

Contracts arising from the programme may be concluded with undertakings and bodies established in the Community, in the member countries of the European Free Trade Association or in a third country with which the Community has concluded an agreement associating that country with the programme. Six such agreements, tacitly renewable for the duration of TEDIS 2, were concluded under the first phase of the programme with the EFTA countries Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (Council Decisions 89/689/EEC, 89/690/EEC, 89/691/EEC, 89/692/EEC, 89/693/EEC and 89/694/EEC of 21.12.1989 Official Journal No L 400 of 30.12.1989).

At the end of the programme the Commission shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a final report containing an assessment by independent experts of the progress made towards each of the programme objectives on the basis of criteria and indicators set out in Annex II to the Council Decision.