Enhancing eDelivery: Insights from the eDelivery Informal Cooperation Network (ICN)
On the 11th of May 2023, Member State representatives met in Brussels and online for the 8th meeting of the eDelivery Informal Cooperation Network. The day was full of idea-exchange, discussion of advancements and exploration of possibilities for eDelivery networks. Key topics of the event were learning about Member States’ eDelivery implementations, the use of European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDIC) for large eDelivery networks and discussing the role of standards within eDelivery.
The event attracted a significant number of first-time attendees which demonstrated the growing interest in eDelivery: with many organisations starting new data exchange projects, there is an increasing demand for reusable eDelivery networks. To serve this need, attendees were invited to explore the possibilities of leveraging the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) instrument, which provides a legal Framework for Multi-Country Projects. Presenters shared their experience on the process of establishing an EDIC for the European Blockchain Infrastructure Service (EBSI) and for public administrations collaborating across various Member States.
The update on recent developments in eDelivery informed on planned changes to eDelivery AS4 and SMP profiles, the increasing market development for conformant solutions and updates to the eDelivery sample software Domibus, DomiSMP and DomiSML.
In the afternoon, ICN members learned about pending changes in eIDAS 2.0 and the comprehensive European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Standards Framework that serves as a valuable resource for guiding stakeholders in their pursuit of creating eDelivery-based Electronic Registered Delivery Services (ERDS) in compliance with eIDAS. Member States shared that for many of their projects it would be necessary to provide ERDS and that this framework would be a good way forward to achieve this.
The presentation of Member States’ eDelivery projects rounded off the event. The participants heard about practical implementation of eDelivery in Norway, including detailed reflections on the implementation and planned projects. A recently finalised study on the benefits and potential of eDelivery for interoperability was presented by the representative from Luxembourg. And lastly, the Swedish representative showcased a recently built national eDelivery platform, emphasising the need to establish trust and enable seamless message transmission.
The reflections shared in the presentations and discussions shed light on the challenges and opportunities surrounding eDelivery implementation. The eDelivery team took note of recommendations from Member States, demonstrating the commitment to driving innovation and continuous improvement in the field.
As eDelivery continues to evolve and gain prominence, this event serves as a catalyst for further advancements, enabling Member States to exchange thoughts in an informal environment and unlock new possibilities for growth and innovation.
The next eDelivery ICN will take place later this year – if you are interested in joining, or if you have any other questions regarding eDelivery, don’t hesitate to message EC-EDELIVERY-SUPPORT@ec.europa.eu
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The eDelivery Building Block
eDelivery is a building block that provides technical specifications and standards, installable software and ancillary services to allow projects to create a network of nodes for secure digital data exchange.
Domibus is the sample software provided by the European Commission to implement an eDelivery AS4 Access Point for the interoperable, secure and reliable data exchange. It is based on the eDelivery AS4 profile, an open technical specification for the secure, web-based, payload-agnostic exchange of data or documents.
DomiSMP is the sample software provided by the European Commission to implement an eDelivery Service Metadata Publisher for publishing and retrieving data necessary for an eDelivery party to dynamically configure its system for message exchange with counterparties using eDelivery. It is based on the eDelivery SMP profile, an open technical specification for publishing service metadata within a 4-corner network.
DomiSML is the sample software provided by the European Commission to implement an eDelivery Service Metadata Locator for an eDelivery party to discover the URLs of other counterparties using eDelivery Access Points and their corresponding metadata. It is based on the eDelivery BDXL profile, an open technical specification for locating Access Points within a network, and on the PEPPOL SML Specification, a technical specification defining a BDXL administration API.
Picture by eDelivery SMCO