Possible EU policies towards ICT standardisation – analysis and a first qualitative impact assessment

ICT standards are crucially important for the interoperability between both entreprises and individual end systems. The paper first briefly discusses the current situation in the field of ICT standardisation in Europe. Here, the perceived diminishing influence of Europe in the international standards arena has led to first initiatives by the European Commission, aiming at changes in their ICT standardisation policy. Some options currently under consideration are addressed, and the recent White Paper is discussed.