CEN has a long history of working on eInvoicing standardization through its eInvoicing Workshop. The Workshop has produced 3 phases of work including recommendations to update the EDI framework, standardized invoice contents, and a framework for an emerging European invoice operator network. CEN will continue this work and enhance it in line with recommendations from the EU Expert Group, including developing user guidelines for adopting the UN/CEFACT Cross Industry Invoice in Europe. Multiple CEN workshops contribute to the overall standardization landscape, and awareness and participation are key to successful implementation.

1. eInvoicing standardization in
Europe
John Ketchell
Director, Innovation: CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
Electronic Invoicing in Europe, Madrid, 27-28 April 2010
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2. CEN and eBusiness
Ø European Standards Organization
Ø Now 31 national members (Croatia just joined)
Ø For CEN, eBusiness standards have long been an
important interest:
§ CEN links both with ISO and with UN-CEFACT
(European Entry Point)
§ We can ensure European business needs are taken
properly into account in their international standards
§ We can ensure European companies can apply these, in
an interoperable manner
Ø eInvoicing has long been part of our work
Ø We welcome the Expert Group recommendations
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3. Our eInvoicing history
Ø “Focus Group” on eInvoicing 2002-2004 – to
assess the standards implications of the original
EU Directive
Ø CEN Workshop was created:
§ Workshops are suited to consensus-building in new
areas
§ Workshop = consensus process open to all at European
level
§ Products = CEN Workshop Agreements usually
published free of charge on web in ICT
Ø Three “Phases”
Ø Well supported by all relevant interests
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4. What has the eInvoicing WS produced
(Phase 1)?
Ø Completed 2006:
§ Proposals to update EDI framework
§ Invoice contents in EU Directive 2001/115/EC
expressed as UN/CEFACT Core Components
§ Recommendation on coded identifiers
§ Various Value Added Tax elements - survey of Member
States, standardized set of codes for exemptions,
reference model
§ E-invoices and digital signatures
§ Storage of Electronic Invoices
§ Guidelines for eInvoicing Service Providers
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5. Phase 2
Ø Completed end-2009:
§ Adoption programme for increased electronic invoicing
in European business processes
§ Compliance of electronic invoice implementations with
Council Directive 2001/115/EC and the national
legislation as regards electronic invoices
§ Cost-effective authenticity and integrity of electronic
invoices and related business documents regardless of
formats and technologies
§ Implementation of compliant electronic invoice systems
in using emerging technologies and business processes
§ A framework for the emerging network infrastructure of
invoice operators throughout Europe
Ø Now available on the web
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6. Phase 3 – under way
Ø Four work packages originally:
§ Development of sustainable compliance guidelines for
electronic invoicing
§ Electronic invoice processes in Europe and enablement
of SMEs to use them efficiently
§ Conformance criteria for interoperability across e-
business networks and services
§ Awareness and promotion
§ Workshop is a large one for us and broadly
representative of the main interests
§ However, sector-specific user communities,
SMEs etc need much more awareness (the
general ICT problem!)
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7. CEN and the Expert Group
Ø Two relevant recommendations (R4.9 and R5.7):
§ European user community should develop clear profiles
and implementation guidelines… facilitated through
CEN…
§ To continue the current CEN Workshop and enhance its
activities to take account of the [EG] recommendations
Ø New project proposed:
§ User guidelines for the uptake and adoption of the
UN/CEFACT Cross Industry Invoice (CII) in Europe
§ Initial focus on Minimum 'Core Invoice' Data-set as
proposed by Expert Group, later extension
§ Linking to CEN WS/BII and PEPPOL work
§ Additional project under WS/eINV
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8. How it all fits together
Ø WS/BII – Business Interoperability Interfaces:
§ eProcurement implementation of UBL, contributing to
UN/CEFACT
§ Evolving towards more formal European Standards?
Ø WS/eBES – currently the European Entry Point
to UN/CEFACT
Ø WS/eInvoicing as just described
Ø The critical issue is for stakeholders to
participate and contribute to this work
Ø Our links and processes will ensure the
coherence
Ø Awareness is the key to implementation
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9. Thank you
jketchell@cencenelec.eu
www.cen.eu
Join the Workshop and find the CWAs at:
www.cen.eu/cen/Sectors/Sectors/ISSS/Activity/Pa
ges/eInvoicing_2.aspx
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