EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 25 June 2012
Digital Agenda: Open standards would save public sector
€1 billion a year
The Commission today releases a new policy to help public authorities avoid dependence
on a single ICT supplier. Following the recommendations in this new "against lock-in"
approach could save the EU's public sector more than €1.1 billion a year. For example,
open tendering procedures can attract increased numbers of bidders with better value bids
(doubling the number of bidders typically lowers contract size by 9%).
European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes says: "Open standards create
competition, lead to innovation, and save money. The guide issued today is here to help
national authorities grab every opportunity for innovation and efficiency."
Working with standards – rather than specifying a single ICT brand, tool, system, or
product – when procuring ICT systems saves taxpayers' money. However, many
organisations either lack the expertise to decide which standards are relevant to their ICT
needs, or fear that the initial costs of change would be too costly and might lead to loss of
data. As a result, they remain locked into their ICT systems or into a relationship with only
one provider.
In addition, greater use of standards makes it easier to exchange data between public
systems, so citizens can supply their data only once to any public administration and it will
facilitate cross-border eGovernment services that citizens and businesses need when
travelling/working/studying/doing business within the EU.
The guide published today is intended to help officials responsible for both planning and
purchasing ICT systems and services for public organisations. It assists countries, regions
or application sectors in developing an overarching ICT strategy, consisting of main
principles to make ICT systems work together and to provide an efficient service to
citizens. Moreover, it helps them assess existing standards fairly and transparently, so as
to choose the ones that can best support their strategy and avoid "lock-in". The guide
suggests long-term planning could help replace systems that are "lock-in" prone by
standards-based alternatives; this should compensate for higher up-front costs when
replacing systems. Finally, the guide offers public procurement officials practical, ‘ready to
use’ guidance to help them take on the new initiative.
To support public authorities during this transition process, the European Commission will
organise meetings with public authorities, ICT supply industry, standards organisations
and civil society, where public organisations will learn from each other, adapt to best
practices that emerge, look into common problems and suggest common solutions.
IP/13/602
Background
The Digital Agenda of Europe identified "lock-in" as a problem, and committed to providing
guidance on the link between ICT standardisation and public procurement to help public
authorities use standards better in order to promote efficiency and reduce "lock-in". The
Commission issues today a Communication, accompanied by a Staff Working Document
that contains a practical guide on how to make better use of standards in procurement, in
particular in the public sector.
Useful links
Open standards in the Digital Agenda
(https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/open-standards )
Digital Agenda Action 23: Provide guidance on ICT standardisation and public procurement
Open standards principles UK
Open standards principles The Netherlands
Hash Tags: #standards, #publicprocurement
Digital Agenda
Follow Neelie on Twitter
Contacts :
Ryan Heath (+32 2 296 17 16), Twitter: @RyanHeathEU
Linda Cain (+32 2 299 90 19)
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