EURO-Label initiative for telematics interoperability
The European Commission, DG XIII, wishes to launch a "EURO-Label" initiative aimed at developing interoperability between products and services, in the framework of Euro-ISDN and trans-European telecommunications networks. The objective of the initiative is to ensure multi-vendor interoperability, in a competitive market, of telematic services of generic interest, including: file transfer, e-mail, on-line information retrieval, videophony and collaborative working. The initiative responds to the needs of 17 million SMEs across Europe who need easy access to advanced telematic services, with worldwide compatibility. The Commission has already completed several preparatory projects for the implementation of the EURO-Label concept, on the basis of a Council and Parliament Decision in favour of the implementation of the EURO-Label concept (Decision 2717/95/EC). In addition, an invitation to tender has recently been launched for the completion of a study relating to interconnectivity and interoperability in the trans-European telecommunications networks (OJ No S 149 of 3.8.1996 p. 34) and a EURO-Label workshop is planned to be held in November 1996 in Brussels.