This forum has been extended to four hours, i.e. 5-9 pm CET.

On Thursday July 15th from 3pm GMT (5pm CET / 11am EST / 8am PST), Talkstandards will be hosting an Open Forum set to discuss issues related to Transparency in EU Standardization.

Questions to be discussed include:

• How should European standardization policy be reformed to enhance efficiency?

• Should transparency be a key priority or could alternative measures more effectively improve the current European standardization system?

The policy discussion on a possible reform of European standardization policy has heated up considerably in recent months against the backdrop of the Digital Agenda and as the standardization reviews are discussed in the European Parliament. Central to this debate is the question of whether the European standardization framework is sufficiently able to foster innovation and international competitiveness?

Important issues include:
• the benefits of the European standardization system and its relevance in international standards setting,
• the role of role global consortia,
• cooperation in important areas such as greenIT and eHealth, and
• the participation of SMEs.

One issue discussed in European policy circles is the need to reform the EU system with regard to increasing transparency. This relates to increased visibility of rules which relate to the procedure, work items and participation of standards setting, as well as the disclosure of patents and upfront information regarding licensing fees for technology implementation.

This Open Forum at Talkstandards.com is devoted to this important debate and will build upon our previous forum from September last year (2009) titled Modernizing ICT Standardization in the EU. The forum will present an updated picture of the European standardization landscape with an emphasis towards transparency.

I invite you to take part in the discussion, for additional information/feedback please contact Junior Editor Peter Gray.

Mattias Ganslandt, Editor

Image from Wikimedia Commons, by user: Kae