COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 23.03.1995 
COM(95) 39 final 
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
on 
Standardization in the field of Information Technology and Telecommunications 
1992 -1993 Report 
SUMMARY 
This report is presented pursuant to Article 8 of Council Decision 
87/95/EEC of 22 December 1986 (*) and describes progress in the field of 
information technology and telecommunications in the period 1992-1993. 
It illustrates : 
the extension of the technical fields covered in the information 
technology and telecommunications sectors; 
the introduction of tools and procedures aimed at faster and more 
effective standardization; 
the launch of projects for effective application of the standards in 
the Member States of the European Union as well as the former Eastern 
Block countries (user guides etc.); 
Information activities aimed at improving public awareness of 
standardization. 
\ 
OJ L 36 Of 7.2.1987, p. 31 
INTRODUCTION 
This report covers the years 1992 and 1993; developments in the period 
1988-1991 were described in the previous reports (2) . 
The first report (1988-1989) placed particular emphasis on : 
the legal basis for standardization activities; 
the importance of standardization for completing the Single Market; 
the structures and procedures for European standardization; 
the results achieved over the years in question (production of 
standards, conformity testing and certification, reference to 
standards in public procurement etc.). 
The second report (1990-1991) placed particular emphasis on : 
extension of the fields covered by standardization activities; 
- development of tools to speed up and improve working; 
practical application of the projects launched previously; 
promotion of the standards by the Commission. 
With a view to keeping the present report brief, it was felt unnecessary to 
reiterate these developments. 
2 SSC<91)786 final of 30.4.91 and SEC492)159B final of 2.9.92 
The breakdown of this report for the period 1992-1993 is the same as that 
for the 1990-1991 report. The report also contains information on 
standardization which includes the former Eastern Block countries. 
I. The most important feature is the increase in the fields dealt with : 
* In the field of information technology (IT), besides the subjects 
already tackled such as electronic message systems, file transfer, 
production automation, smart houses, computer graphics, computer 
processing and exchange of medical data, electromagnetic 
compatibility, exchange of information between libraries and 
electronic payment systems, new fields have gained in importance. 
Examples of these are electronic data interchange (EDI), geo-data, 
character sets, road traffic telematics, barcoding, the postal 
sector, promotion of testing and certification in the field of 
information technology and telecommunications. 
Standardization at the service of the people of Europe - let us take 
a number of concrete examples to illustrate the impact of 
standardization on our daily life : 
standardization work in the field of road traffic telematics 
should lead to improved traffic control and a uniform accounting 
system for road tolls. 
the purpose of standardization in the field of geo-data is to 
prepare for electronic maps. These are required for traffic guidance 
systems as well as specific planning projects on the part of industry 
and the authorities, to speed up the information and decision-making 
process. 
standardization work in the field of barcoding has been 
successfully completed. These standards should increase efficiency 
in stock control and the sale of goods. 
in the postal sector the standardization work should speed up 
postal deliveries. 
* In the telecommunications field : 
in the regulated field the work on implementing the ONP concept 
(= Open Network Provision) and the mutual recognition of the general 
approval for terminal equipment (Directive 91/263/EEC) continued. 
Work is currently under way on technical conversion since the scope 
of this Directive was expanded to include satellite equipment. Annex 
1, Part 1 contains the standardization and study commissions awarded 
in the regulated field. 
in the non^regulated field, the work on mobile radio systems 
was monitored with special attention as these are setting up European 
Services with Community-wide frequency allocation. Encouraging 
progress was made in the specification of digital systems for GSM, 
wireless telephony (DECT), pager services (ERMES) and Trunked Radio 
(TETRA). The standardization work on satellite communication, 
particularly in the field of VSAT equipment and communication with 
low Earth orbit satellites is continuing. Further work will be 
carried out to promote the application of the ISDNs, encourage user 
involvement and take account of the increasing importance"of 
rehabilitation techniques. Annex 1, Part 2 contains the 
standardization and study commissions awarded in the non-regulated 
field. 
31 standards (EN, ENV) (Annex 2) in the IT field and 27 standards in 
the telecommunications field (European Telecommunication Standards -
ETS) (Annex 3) were published in the period under review. 
II A further feature of the period under review was the preparation of 
procedures aimed at further improvements in the cooperation between 
the Commission and the European Standards Organizations 
(CEN/CENELEC/ETSI) at project and management level : 
CEN and CENELEC have prepared databank procedures which will 
enable the Commission, among other things, to obtain information on 
the status of all standardization work and in particular that which 
is receiving Commission support, via online access. This means that 
the entire development of a European Standard (EN/ENV) can be 
followed right up to the point at which it is converted into national 
standards. The work is already at the demonstration stage. 
New skeleton contracts which make the effects of the support 
assured by the Commission more transparent have been concluded 
between the Commission and the European standardization 
organizations. There is now a strict distinction between a "mandate" 
(this term has been re-defined) and an "order". A "mandate" now 
denotes the Commission's political will for standardization work to 
be carried out in a particular field, and is not therefore 
accompanied by budgetary funds. The European standardization 
organizations are free to decide on their response to this expression 
of political will. 
The previous type of mandate has been converted into an 
"order". By means of an "order", the Commission concludes a contract 
against payment with the European standardization organizations, for 
standardization work or other activities (such as studies) which are 
useful to standardization. 
-In the last few years the orders have been increasingly broken 
down into smaller units, which has caused monitoring and 
administrative problems. The Commission's response was to introduce 
"global orders". They summarize the objectives for a project period 
(a year, for example) and the European standardization organizations 
have a free hand in fulfilling the order. To guarantee project 
control by the Commission and the consultation rights of the sector 
committee SOGITS (3) , a two-stage procedure is basically envisaged 
for the performance of the global order. The first stage comprises a 
study which will examine the way in which the standardization work is 
to be carried out in order to achieve the result set out in the 
global order on time. The results of the study are submitted to the 
Commission and SOGITS. After consulting SOGITS the Commission 
decides whether and in what form the second stage of the global order 
(the actual standardization work) should be initiated. 1994 and 1995 
will be a trial period for this concept. 
"Senior Officials Group for information Technologies Standardization" 
Ill The work carried out in the period under review is also characterized 
by the results achieved and the specific measures taken to ensure the 
effective application of the standards. 
1. Testing 
Within the CTS (Conformance Testing Services) programme the 
Commission finances the provision of harmonized test equipment and 
the setting up of laboratories which offer harmonized testing 
services for determining the conformity of products and equipment 
with European standards (or with international ones in the case of 
telecommunications). 
The first three phases of the project were implemented between 
1985 and 1991. The evaluation of the results led to a concentration 
on the telecommunications aspects in the application of the terminal 
equipment directive 91/263/EEC. 
The fourth phase (CTS 4 - télécoms phase), which started in May 
1991, essentially covers particular aspects of the ISDN network and 
the field of interoperability. 
Finally, the fifth phase (CTS 5), which is essentially devoted 
to the expansion of existing projects, started at the end of 1992. 
2. Certification 
a) Information technology 
By the beginning of 1993 progress in the preparatory work 
mentioned in the previous reports was such that specific measures 
could be taken to enable the European scheme (establishment of the 
organizations responsible for testing and certification and 
regulation of the relations between them) for testing and 
certification to operate. The relevant order BC-IT-226 covers 
information technology and telecommunications. Work is still 
continuing. 
b) Telecommunications 
Work in the telecommunications field has progressed 
further. Test centres have been set up. Work has concentrated on 
converting Directive 91/263/EEC in the last two years, for which the 
"Association of Designated Laboratories and Notified Bodies" (ADLNB) 
was set up. The ADLNB1s task is to create a European' structure for 
testing and certification in the field of general approval. Efforts 
are being made to adapt these structures to be created in the 
regulated field with the aid of the ADLNB to those already in 
existence in the7non-regulated field (see 2.a). 
3. Reference to standards in public procurement 
The^ application of standards was undertaken with particular reference 
to public procurement, for which Council Decision 87/95/EEC of 
22.12.1986 requires reference to be made to standards in the field of 
IT and T. This requires adequate information to be made available to 
the officials responsible for awarding contracts in the Member States 
in order to facilitate their task. To this end, two projects, EPHOS 
and EUROMETHOD, were launched with support from the Commission and 
the Public Procurement Group (SOGITS-PPG) (4) : 
EPHOS (European Procurement Handbook for Open Systems) is chiefly 
intended for public procurement officials. Its aim is to facilitate 
the task of those entrusted with drawing up specifications for public 
contracts relating to open IT systems. The information directly 
usable for drawing up specifications is to be published in the form 
of a handbook. 
Work is well advanced. The introductory publication "How to apply 
standards in Information Technology Public Procurement" is to appear 
in a second, revised edition in mid-1994. The progress of work on 
the technical contributions for the specifications can be found in 
the Table (Annex 4). 
Although EPHOS was originally intended as information for public 
procurement officials, it is now becoming apparent that it is gaining 
in importance in terms of general information about IT standards and 
their application in public administration. 
Reference should be made at this point to the book "EPHOS - At a 
Glance", the second, revised edition of which is due to appear in 
1994. The EPHOS Awareness Office is also to issue two magazines 
"EPHOS News" and "EPHOS Gazette" which have more than 2000 
subscribers worldwide. 
In this case "worldwide" does not just mean the European market area, 
the United States and Japan but also the countries of Central and 
Eastern Europe. These countries are currently setting up a market 
economy system and this also means the introduction of an appropriate 
public procurement system. Most of these countries are therefore 
taking a keen interest in information via EPHOS. 
Contacts have therefore been established with Hungary, Poland and the 
Czech Republic. A presentation about EPHOS in Russia is scheduled 
for 1994. 
EUROMETHOD is addressed not only to public procurement officials but 
also to all those involved in public procurement, to those using 
computer systems and to various providers of services. EUROMETHOD 
lays down a common European approach to the overall planning, 
development and maintenance of open systems. 
The first two phases of the project (definition phase and feasibility 
study) have been completed. The aim of the third phase is to produce 
a set of new handbooks dealing with the management of the development 
of information systems by the authorities. These documents are to be 
available in 199-4. Annex 5 shows the contents of each of the 
handbooks, which are to undergo practical trials in the Member 
States' administrations. The experience gained from this will be 
taken into account in a review phase. 
A group of national officials working under the aegis and on behalf of 
SOGITS (Senior Officials Group for Information Technologies 
Standardization). 
The interim results of the EUROMETHOD project attracted worldwide 
attention as early as the preparatory phase. The administrations of 
the EFTA countries and the USA expressed an interest, and"the Western 
European Union is interested in respect of military procurement for 
information technology. The Hungarian and Romanian Governments have 
also signalled their interest in EUROMETHOD. 
CONCLUSIONS 
Development in the fields of information technology and telecommunications 
in the period under review has been positive from a number of viewpoints : 
extension of the technical fields covered 
introduction of tools and procedures to achieve faster and more 
efficient standardization 
launching of projects for the effective application of standards in 
the Member States (user guides etc.) 
information activities (particularly in respect of the countries of 
Central and Eastern Europe). 
Even though the Single Market has been completed, further work still needs 
to be done to eliminate the technical, barriers to trade and in particular 
to prevent them from arising in the first place. 
The activities already reported in the report for 1990-1991 must therefore 
be continued in future : 
the effective application of Council Decision 87/95/EEC in all Member 
States, particularly in the field of public procurement. 
the conversion of European standards into national standards. 
increasing the awareness of standardization and the penetration of 
(European and national) standards into the industrial fabric of the 
Member States - these measures should be aimed in particular at SMEs 
which have neither the financial resources nor the means of 
communication to have access to the requisite knowledge. 
in the field of public contracts : publication of lists of software 
and hardware which meet European standards and publication of the 
titles of these standards, in particular in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities (Supplement). 
Central and Eastern European countries : intensification of the 
contacts already established and inclusion of further countries in 
the information about Council Decision 87/95/EEC. 
A suitable political framework is required for the information activities 
relating to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This has been 
realized through these countries' interest in converting their economic 
system to market economy conditions. Information about Council Decision 
87/95/EEC is the only measure so far. Association with other suitable 
European Union aid projects should, however, be sought. Synergistic 
effects can be employed in this way. Although IT and T standardization is 
10 
only one facet of standardization in general, information about it is a 
priority for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe for two reasons : 
it contributes towards the introduction of market economy conditions, 
as described above; 
it promotes technological progress in those countries in the IT and T 
sector. 
If such projects are undertaken on a larger scale, consideration must be 
given to adjusting the financial resources at the appropriate time. 
11 
Table of Annexes 
Annex 1, Part 1: Standardization and study commissions awarded in the 
regulated field 
Annex 1, Part 2: Standardization and study commissions awarded in the 
non-regulated field 
Annex 2: Standards published in the period under review: 
IT field (EN,ENV) 
Annex 3: Standards published in the period under review: 
Telecommunications field (ETS) 
Annex 4: EPHOS - Progress of work on the technical contributions for the 
specifications 
Annex 5: EUROMETHOD - Contents of each of the handbooks 
lu â&NNEXl 
PARTI 
OPEN NETWORK PROVISION 
BC-T-297 ONP higher order leased lines 
BC-T-298 Automatic reverse charging on the fixed public telephone network 
BC-T-299 CTRs for ONP higher order leased lines 
BC-T-O30-SI ONP study on U-type interfaces 
BC-T-031 -SI ONP study on M-type interfaces 
BC-T-033-SI Harmonisation of plug and socket on the PSTN 
BC-T-034-SI ONP study into the interconnection of PSDN's using X.75 
BC-T-036-SI Calling line identification on the fixed public telephone network 
TERMINAL TYPE APPROVAL 
BC-T-037-SI CTRs in the Satellite Earth Station Equipment field 
PART 2 
CONFORMANCE TESTING 
BC-T-292 Test specifications for DECT 
BC-T-293 Test specifications for ISUP protocols 
BC-T-294 Test specifications for ISDN videophone 
BC-T-295 Test specifications for VSAT 
BC-T-296 Test specifications for ISDN-PCI 
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS 
BC-T-042-SI Improvement on the methods of measurement for radiation 
BC-T-300 CODEC for TETRA (Trans European TRunked Radio) 
BC-T-029-SI Interworking between X.25, NB-ISDN and VSAT networks 
BC-T-035-SI Establishment of a work programme for Low Earth Orbiting satellite systems 
BC-T-043-SI Architecture of HIPERLAN 
MISCELLANEOUS 
BC-T-301 Application of ETS 300 075 on the ISDN 
BC-T-032-SI ETSI work programme and user requirements 
BC-T-038-SI Implications of human ageing on telephone design 
BC-T-03 9-SI Establishment of a work programme for Rehabilitation Teclinology 
ft 
Results or Standardization Work covered by Order Vouchers in 
Information Technologies and Telecommunications 
Published Standards (EN) 
02-Mar.94 Annex 2 
•-•>t'-.-:: :. 
Standard Title 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 
EN 27316-3 Identification & payments cards. ICC with contacts 
28630-1 Magnetic support media. ISO 8630/1 
28630-2 Magnetic support media. ISO 8630/2 
28630-3 Magnetic support media. ISO 8630/3 
28632-1 Information processing systems computer graphics. Part 1 
28632-2 Information processing systems computer graphics. Part 2 
28632-3 Information processing systems computer graphics. Part 3 
28632-4 Computer Graphics. Clear text encoding 
28651 -1 Computer Graphics. GKS language bindings. FORTRAN 
28651-2 Computer Graphics. GKS language bindings. PASCAL 
28651-3 Computer Graphics. GKS language bindings. ADA 
28805 Information Processing Systems - Computer Graphics. GKS-3D 
29070 SGML. Support facilities. Registr. proc. for public text 
29241-1 . VDU-Ergonomics requirements. General introduction (9241/1) 
29241 -2 VDU - Ergonomics requirements. Task requirements (9241/2) 
29241-3 VDU - Ergonomics requirements. Visual requirements (9241/3) 
29315 Systems interfaces. Interfaces bctwen flex, cartr. & host 
29646-1 OSI testing methodology. General concepts 
29646-2 OSI testing methodology. Abstract test suite specifications 
29646-4 OSI testing methodology. Test realisation 
29646-5 OSI testing methodology. Requirements on test laboratories 
Results of Standardization Work covered by Order Vouchers in 
Information Technologies and Telecommunications 
Published Standards (ENV) Annex 2 
- 2 -
02-Mar-94 
Standard Title 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 
ENV 41114 TOKEN-BUS : multiple LAN 
41114 TOKEN-BUS : simple LAN 
41211-x Basic class VT, A-mode, X.3 PAD compatible 
41212 Directory access to centralized directory 
41213-x Basic class VT, A-mode, TELNET 
41214 MHS - IPM: IDM end system to IPM end system 
41215 Directory. Behaviour of DSA's for distributed operations 
41513 VT control objects, VT font assignment type, type N° 1 
41801-x Relay LAN/LAN - CLNS 
606 Bar coding. Transport label for steel products 
i ;> 
Results of Standardization Work entrusted to ETSI in 
Telecommunications 
Published Standards (ETS) and Technical Basis for Regulations (TBR) Annex 3 
- 1 -
02-Mar-94 
Standard Title 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
ETS 
I-ETS 
TBR 
TBR 
TBR 
TBR 300 246 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision Technical 
Requirements; 2048 kbit/s Digital Unstructured Leased Line (D2048U); Network 
Interface Presentation 
300 247 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision Technical 
Requirements; 2048 kbit/s Digital Unstructured Leased Line (D2048U); 
Connection Characteristics 
300 248 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision Technical 
Requirements; 2048 kbit/s Digital Unstructured Leased Line (D2048U); Terminal 
Equipment interface 
300 254 Satellite Earth Stations (SES); Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMESs) operating in 
the 1,5/1,6/2,5 GHz bands providing low bit rate data communications (LBRDCs) 
300 255 Satellite Earth Stations (SES); Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMESs) operating in 
the 11/12/14 GHz bands providing low bit rate datacommunications (LBRDCs) 
300 282 Satellite Earth Stations (SES); Network Control Facilities (NCF) for Land Mobile 
Earth Stations (LMESs) Operating in the 1.5/1.6/2.5 GHz and 11/12/14 GHz 
bands providing low bit rate data communications (LBRDCs) 
300 288 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision (ONP) Technical 
Requirements; 64 kbit/s Digital Unrestricted Leased Line with octet integrity 
(D64U); Network Interface Presentation 
300 289 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision (ONP) Technical 
Requirements; 64 kbit/s Digital Unrestricted Leased Line with octet integrity 
(D64U); Connection Characteristics 
300 290 Business Telecommunications (BT); Open Network Provision Technical 
Requirements;.64 kbit/s Digital Unstructured Leased Line with octet integrity 
(D64U); Terminal Equipment interface 
300 327 Satellite Earth Stations (SES); Satellite NEws Gathering (SNG) Transportable 
Earth Stations (TES) (13-14/11-12 Ghz) 
300 383 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); File Transfer over the ISDN 
EUROFILE transfer profile 
300 388 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); File Transfer & Access Management 
(FTAM) over ISDN based on simple file transfer profile 
T/TE 04-37 Attachment requirements for terminal equipments employing switched access to 
Packet Switched Data Network (PSPDN) according to CCITT Recommendation 
X.32 
300 026 Terminal Equipment (TE); Syntax-based Videotex protocol Terminal Conformance 
Testing 
10 DECT Telephony terminal requirements 
11 DECT Public Network Profiles 
12 Open Network Provision Technical Requirements; 2048 kbit/s Digital Unstructured 
Leased Line (D2048U); Terminal Equipment Attachment Requirements 
15/16 Open Network Provision Technical Requirements; Ordinary Quality and special 
voice bandwidth 2-wire beased Lines (A20 and A2S); Terminal equipment 
interface 
Annex 
- 2 -
Standard Title 
TBR 17/18 Open Network Provision Technical Requirements; Ordinary and special quality 
voice bandwidth 4-wire leased line (A40 and A4S); Terminal equipment interface 
TBR 5 phase 1 GSM access for non-voice terminals 
TBR 6 DECT Access for non-voice terminals 
TBR 7 ERMES Receive only access 
TBR 8 NET33 Digital telephony over ISDN 
TBR 9 phase 1 European digital cellular telecommunication system; Attachment requirements for 
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile stations; Telephony 
TBR 9bis phase 1 European digital cellular telecommunication system; Attachment requirements for 
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile stations; Short Message 
Services (SMS) 
TBR 9quad phase 1 European digital cellular telecommunication system; Attachment requirements for 
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile stations; Dual Tone 
Multi Frequency (DTMF) transmissions 
TBR 9ter phase 1 European digital cellular telecommunication system; Attachment requirements for 
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile stations; Supplementary 
Services (SS) 
Individual copies of the "EPHOS- At a Glance" guide can be obtained free of charge on application to: 
EPHOS Awareness Office 
54 rue d'Angoussart 
B -1301 Bierges, Belgium 
Tel. + 32/10/41.11,72, Fax: +32/10/41.17.42 
The series of EPHOS Han dbooks cover the following topics. 
The first version is currently available from CEC official outlets in the Member States at a price of 10 ECUs plus VAT. 
EPHOS I (printed) 
EUR 14021 EN + EPHOS 2 (first half 1994) 
EUR 14021/1... EN + EPHOS 2 bis (during 1995) 
X.25 
MHS 
FTAM Document Format 
Character Repertoire 
Electronic Data Interchange 
Virtual Terminal 
FTAM maintenance 
MHS maintenance 
Directory Services 
Local Area Networks 
Data Cabling 
LAN/WAN 
NET Management Operating Systems arid PÔSIX 
Database Enquiry 
Metropolitan Area Networks 
RISK - Security in business 
Transaction Processing 
Network Management 
X.25 maintenance 
ISDN 
Related publication: "A Guide to the Requirements ofthe IT Standards Decision and the Revised Supplies Directive'Y 
EUR 13678 ÈN+, second edition, 5 ECUs plus VAT 
> 
D 3 a> x 
w 
ANNEX 5 
EUROMETHOD Overview 
3A-0 
-\ Customer 
Guide 
3A-1 Supplier 
Guide 
3À-2 
Delivery Planning Guide 
3A-3 
Method Bridging Guide 
3A-4 -Case Study 
3A-5 
Transaction 
Model 
3A-6 .-Deliverables 
Model 
3A-7 Strategy 
Model 
3A-8 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 39 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-046-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-85528-2 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg