PEPPOL Project Status and Launch of OpenPEPPOL AISBL
As the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (PEPPOL) project reached a successful completion on August 31st, 2012, with the PEPPOL specifications being implemented across Europe, the OpenPEPPOL Association has been set up to take responsibility for the maintenance of the PEPPOL specifications, building blocks and services, and to promote implementation across Europe.
OpenPEPPOL has been established as a non-profit international association under Belgian law, comprised of interested public and private members of the PEPPOL community and has begun official operations on September 1st, 2012. Membership is now open to a wide range of organisations.
The Association provides the authoritative point of reference for networks of interoperable, PEPPOL-compliant infrastructure and the organisations that use it, ensuring high level governance and continuation of the agreement infrastructure. .
As the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (PEPPOL) project reached a successful completion on August 31st, 2012, with the PEPPOL specifications being implemented across Europe, the OpenPEPPOL Association has been set up to take responsibility for the maintenance of the PEPPOL specifications, building blocks and services, and to promote implementation across Europe.
OpenPEPPOL has been established as a non-profit international association under Belgian law, comprised of interested public and private members of the PEPPOL community and has begun official operations on September 1st, 2012. Membership is now open to a wide range of organisations.
The Association provides the authoritative point of reference for networks of interoperable, PEPPOL-compliant infrastructure and the organisations that use it, ensuring high level governance and continuation of the agreement infrastructure. .
The main goals of OpenPEPPOL are as follows:
1. Encourage European governments and their suppliers to continue implementing eProcurement using the PEPPOL specifications and promoting best practices.
2. Encourage the development of innovative PEPPOL-based ICT products and services, promoting their use also in the Business to Business context to harmonise processes across the private and public sectors, simplifying eProcurement adoption for small and medium sized enterprises.
3. Ensure that the PEPPOL network continues to grow in an open, accessible and compliant manner, supporting interoperability for European public services and helping Europe move towards a Digital Single Market.
The ownership and future development of maintenance of the PEPPOL specifications, building blocks and services have been handed over to OpenPEPPOL. Several organisations of all sizes, within and outside the OpenPEPPOL community, such as service providers, ICT vendors and end users are investing resources to support PEPPOL in their platforms, solutions and services. PEPPOL is currently being implemented in several European countries to date and interest is now increasing outside of the EU.
OpenPEPPOL Membership
By becoming a member of OpenPEPPOL, private and public organisations will have the unique opportunity to join forces and drive standardisation, process automation and connectivity across Europe. Membership is open to:
1. Contracting authorities (public sector buyers), economic operators (suppliers) and other end-users of PEPPOL specifications, building blocks and services;
2. Regional or other types of Authorities within the PEPPOL network;
3. Service Metadata Publisher providers, Access Point providers, eSignature validation service providers, Pre-award service providers;
4. Other organisations which are relevant to the purposes of OpenPEPPOL.
OpenPEPPOL Organisational Structure
All OpenPEPPOL Members that form the General Assembly are also Members of at least one of the Coordinating Communities:
- OpenPEPPOL Transport Infrastructure Coordinating Community
- OpenPEPPOL Post-Award Coordinating Community
- OpenPEPPOL eSignature Coordinating Community
- OpenPEPPOL Pre-Award Coordinating Community
Members of OpenPEPPOL are expected to participate, on a voluntary basis, in the activities of internal working groups to ensure efficient operation of the Coordinating Communities. The first OpenPEPPOL General Assembly is planned for autumn 2012. Click here for more information about OpenPEPPOL and how to join.
Contacts
Additional information and self-help documentation provided on the OpenPEPPOL website at: www.peppol.eu.
For further specific enquiries, please communicate by email to: info@peppol.eu.