• MM introduced speakers and gave an update on the Digital Europe (DIGITAL) and Digital Decade policy programmes, focusing on eDelivery's role and funding. eDelivery is under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL).
• First report on Europe’s digital decade, in September 2023:
  • Indicated a need for accelerated efforts in policy and technology investment, with particular emphasis on improving digital public services.
  • EU's digital targets: Aiming for 100% online key public services by 2030, online access to health records, and electronic identification means for citizens.
  • Underlined monitoring and reporting as essential for transparency and measuring progress towards digital transformation.
  • Member States' progress in digital transformation: Current scoring for digital public services is 77 out of 100, indicating a need for enhanced efforts.
• eIDAS proposal update: Successful conclusion of the final political trialogue, moving closer to the formal adoption of the eIDAS regulation revision.
• Future ICN meetings and webinar plans: Plans to adjust the format of future ICN meetings (next scheduled for 15 May 2024) and the intention to host a second webinar with Member State testimonials on digital ecosystem experiences. 

• The eFTI regulation aims to transition from paper to electronic documentation in the transport sector to reduce administrative burdens. 
• The regulation, effective since 2020, awaits full implementation. It concentrates on goods information, excluding vehicle and personal documentation. Authorities must accept electronically provided information compliant with the regulation. 
• The digital ecosystem’s full name is the eFTI Exchange Environment. It uses eFTI platforms and national eFTI gates for EU-wide data exchange. 
• Data accessibility: eFTI incorporates QR codes for easy access and sharing of transport information. 
• LP outlined procedures for situations where electronic data retrieval fails. 
• Integration with eDelivery: eFTI aligns with the eDelivery standard for secure and standardised message exchange. 
• eFTI regulation is open for feedback until 21 November 2023; further consultation planned. 
• Implementation timeline: preparatory work until end of 2023; adoption until July 2024; by August 2026 Member State authorities obliged to accept eFTI data. 

• MM asked about the availability of grants to help Member States implement eDelivery. LP confirmed funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): The grant was already given to the consortium of Member States and different organisations as eFTI4EU. She also revealed that currently nine Member States are eFTI partners. 
• To the question about the need for any special changes before using eDelivery, LP explained that eDelivery is message agnostic, requiring only an access point. BD added that no protocol updates are needed for eDelivery, but software adaptations might be necessary.
• Representative of Luxembourg asked whether existing networks like PEPPOL could be repurposed for eDelivery. LP and BD acknowledged the potential for reusing networks but highlighted challenges in standardisation and governance. 
• Representative of Poland sought clarity on mapping eDelivery within the eFTI model. LP and BD explained the role of eDelivery access points in the eFTI model, emphasizing their importance in securing and standardizing information exchange. 
• Representative of Sweden acknowledged the complexity and potential of creating a unified platform at a European level. 
• Representative of Lithuania asked about the certification process for eFTI service providers and the possibility of connecting to multiple gateways. LP clarified the certification process and mentioned that currently service providers connect to only one national gateway, but future adjustments are possible. 

• CP highlighted the DSSC's vision of enhancing data sharing through the data spaces paradigm. 
• CP defined data spaces as distributed systems that support trusted data transactions and data sovereignty, contrasting them with data lakes and platforms. 
• The DSSC's mission involves coordinating European data spaces, focusing on infrastructure and service benefits for users. 
• Key deliverables from the DSSC include a starter kit, stakeholder network, support platform, and an annual conference. 
• The blueprint released by the DSSC consists of a glossary, conceptual model, and Building Blocks, aimed at establishing a common understanding and facilitating the construction of data spaces. 
• Discussions on interoperability and alignment with European standards and legislation were prominent. 
• After the presentation, MM asked about a connection between DSSC and ISA². BD clarified that both are part of the Digital Europe programme, focusing on interoperability and data spaces initiatives.

• Representative of Czechia discussed their extensive but proprietary eDelivery system, which though lacks standardisation with European Building Blocks. He mentioned the significant expansion of the system to include legal entities and entrepreneurs, increasing user numbers. 
• Representative of Lithuania shared updates on the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) and the implementation of a new national eInvoicing system. 
• A representative of Denmark discussed moving from a proprietary network to a national eDelivery network for a national trade platform, including the use of PEPPOL infrastructure. 
• Another representative of Denmark detailed the eHealth sector's messaging infrastructure using eDelivery, working on governance and addressing platforms. 
• Representative of Luxembourg talked about their existing eDelivery access points and the significant increase in eInvoicing over the PEPPOL network. Also, mentioned Luxembourg becoming a PEPPOL authority, allowing them to define specific document types and rules for service providers. 

Presentation:

• Sweden's digitalisation has been decentralized, leading to varied digital systems across different agencies. The national platform, based on eDelivery, aims to standardise these systems, facilitating cross-domain services. 
• Sweden chose eDelivery because of its benefits: scalability, decentralised architecture compatibility, support for both structured and unstructured data, adherence to international standards, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, eDelivery, being an EU Building Block, facilitates cross-border digital communication and leverages EU support and resources. 
• Sweden’s secure digital communication (SDK) is designed to work between federations, where a federation refers to a collective or group of organisations that have joined together for a specific business purpose, such as sharing data or services. In this context, each federation operates under a set of shared rules and standards to facilitate secure and efficient digital communication and information exchange. 
• As MV outlined, the development faced technical challenges, but legal issues and contracts were more complex. 
• Emphasis is on building a collaborative environment across public and private sectors with a high level of trust. 
• Sweden's platform is designed for scalability, with potential to support thousands of organisations.
• The project benefits from the support and resources of the EU, particularly in digital infrastructure. 
• The project is committed to international standards and interoperability, which is crucial for the platform's success and expansion. 
• Potential expansion of the platform for wider European integration and cross-border digital communication.

Reactions & questions: 

• Representative of Norway showed interest in the Swedish model, comparing it to Norway's digital post system and their exploration of similar integrations like the Finnish X-Road system. He suggested to collaborate in the future. 
• Representative of Austria inquired about how organizations connect their data registers to the new system, seeking clarity on whether the infrastructure directly facilitates this or if it's up to the partners. 
• Representative of Denmark noted similarities in their approach to digital infrastructure with Sweden's, expressing interest in potential collaboration and emphasising the importance of adhering to open international standards in healthcare digitalisation. 
• Representative of Finland clarified the adaptability of the X-Road system to highly devolved government structures, similar to Sweden's, and its compatibility with the eDelivery system. 
• Representative of Poland inquired about the functionality of the central address book and its ability to store addresses at the level of services or functions, as well as the potential for having multiple SMPs. 
• BD sought clarification on the security levels within the federations, specifically asking if each security profile defined a separate federation and how this aligned with eDelivery terminology. 
• There were discussions about the number of certified access points, the possibility of a dedicated session to demonstrate how the system works, and the potential for international expansion of the platform. 

Representative of DG JUST emphasised: 

• e-CODEX network is foundational for cross-border judicial cooperation, involving eDelivery gateways and connectors. 
• Member States maintain the e-CODEX access points with support from eu-LISA.
• The eEvidence digital exchange system underlies all cross-border judicial cooperation, supporting various legal processes. 
• Plans include the digitalisation of 24 judicial instruments by 2031. 

Representative of eu-LISA highlighted:

• eu-LISA is the central service provider for e-CODEX.  
• The justice domain's digitisation efforts and the necessity of content-agnostic systems like e-CODEX. 
• Challenges in managing the growing community of eDelivery users and maintaining interoperability across domains. 

Q&A session: 

• BD asked about the e-CODEX network's configuration and flexibility. Representative of eu-LISA described real-life situations showcasing the need for interoperability between different domains, like justice and transport. Emphasized the necessity for a standardized approach to bridge communities effectively. Representative of DG JUST added that the current plan involves a single e-CODEX network supporting all cross-border judicial procedures, with Member States having the option to use multiple access points connected to the same network. 
• BD mentioned the pilot between OOTS and EUCARIS, highlighting the expanding reach and potential integrations involving e-CODEX. 
• Representative of eu-LISA concluded by highlighting the importance of adhering to standards and principles to build effective bridges between different systems and domains, assuring that despite challenges, such interoperability is achievable. 

• BD announced the redesign and publication of a new monitoring dashboard, now focusing on tracking eDelivery's usage across different ecosystems. 
• eDelivery is now part of the DSSC's catalogue, though BD noted a mismatch in data exchange definitions between eDelivery and the DSSC (it’s important for eDelivery to remain agnostic in this context). 
• The terminology used for tracking eDelivery's usage has shifted from "projects" to "digital ecosystems", indicating a long-term, ongoing implementation strategy.
• New digital ecosystems, like DG TAXUD's CBAM and a transparency register between the Commission and the Parliament, are adopting eDelivery. 
• eDelivery is transitioning to new cryptography methods, moving from RSA to EDDSA and ECDSA. (Post-ICN update: In Q1 2024, an updated version of these specifications will be published for consultation). 
• Product updates on Domibus and DomiSMP: Focus on maintenance and new features, including potential support for Java 11, and improved administration capabilities in DomiSMP. 
• Conformance testing service: The service migrated to the Interoperability Test Bed (ITB), focusing on enhancing test depth and coverage (learn more here). 
• After the presentation, the representative of Lithuania inquired about the duration for which Domibus would remain aligned with the PEPPOL network's requirements. BD clarified that aligning Domibus with PEPPOL is not within their current mandate, and that eDelivery does not have a commitment to support deviations from the eDelivery AS4 profile. 
• A post-presentation discussion about XHE envelope support in Domibus came after a question from a representative of Denmark. An eu-LISA representative suggested an alternative approach using another envelope within the ebMS envelope. BD added that XHE can be used as a payload in eDelivery currently, but a specific alignment, similar to the SBDH profile enhancement, requires a formal change request. A representative of Sweden commented on the effective use of XHE in the Swedish platform, advocating for broader support and adoption. 

• Review of ICN meeting formats: Mixed opinions, with some participants advocating for only on-site meeting for better networking, while others preferred hybrid for broader accessibility. Proposed one hybrid (15 May) and another fully remote (26 November) ICN meeting in 2024. 
• Suggestions made to adapt the agenda to better focus on eDelivery updates, security concerns, and success stories from various projects. 
• PEPPOL alignment emphasised as crucial, with a need for a collaborative approach in implementing changes and addressing user concerns. 

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