This document summarizes a European Commission conference on e-business. It discusses the Digital Agenda for Europe and its goals of creating a digital single market. It outlines initiatives to promote e-invoicing and e-procurement through consistent standards and cross-border interoperability. The Commission plans to publish a communication on e-invoicing in November and a green paper consultation on expanding e-procurement, seeking input on how to accelerate its adoption across the EU.

1. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 1
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference
Nathalie Pasquier
Bari, 29 October 2010

2. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 2
European perspective on E-invoicing
and E-procurement
• Future initiatives
• Distinction E-invoicing/E-procurement

3. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 3
Digital Agenda for Europe
• Adopted in May 2010
• Aim “deliver sustainable economic and social benefits
from a digital single market based on fast and ultra
fast internet and interoperable applications”
• Achieved by “vibrant digital single market” through
making online and cross border transactions
straightforward
 Common currency but e-payments and e-
invoicing is fragmented
 Most public online services do not work across
borders to the detriment of the mobility of
businesses and citizens
E U R O P E 2 0 2 0

4. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 4
E-invoicing : reasons for adoption
Improved cash flow
Support the
Single Market
Cost savings
Improve
Competitiveness

5. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 5
VAT Invoicing Directive
• Adopted on 13 July 2010 (Directive 2010/45/EU)
• Need to remove barriers to uptake of e-invoicing :
 Paper and e-invoices treated equally
 Burden on paper invoices not increase
• Consistent transposition of the Directive is critical to avoid a
fragmented approach in EU27 Member States

6. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 6
Communication on e-invoicing
• Communication still in draft
• Aim is for publication in November 2010
• Builds on the work of the Expert Group on e-Invoicing (2008-2009)
 Members appointed represented key stakeholders
 November 2009 published Final Report
 Recommendations on SMEs, standards, legal
framework and interoperability
 Findings endorsed by public consultation
and Madrid conference (April 2010)

7. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 7
Communication on e-invoicing
• Communication should address
 Consistent transposition of VAT Invoicing Directive
(2010/45/EU)
 Mass adoption through SMEs
 Promote common standards
 Allow sender to exchange e-invoices with any
receiver

8. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 8
E-procurement
• Reasons for adoption :
 Increased accessibility and transparency
 Reduce administrative costs and speed up procedures
 Integration of EU procurement markets
• « By 2010 at least 50% of public procurement above the EU
public procurement threshold will be carried out
electronically » Manchester Declaration, 2005
• Less than 5% of total procurement budgets is awarded through
electronic systems (2010)
• Outstanding challenges and issues need to be resolved

9. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 9
Green paper on « Expanding the use of
e-procurement in the EU »
• Consultation document : Your input is needed!
• The Commission wants to consult interested parties on how it
can encourage buyers and businesses to use e-procurement
• Responses to be sent by 31 January 2011
• Open Hearing in Brussels on 25 November 2010 : “Accelerating
e-Procurement: what role for the EU?”
• Followed by a White Paper in 2011

10. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 10
Green paper on « Expanding the use of
e-procurement in the EU »
• How to accelerate the take-up of e-procurement?
• In which areas EU intervention is needed to avoid the
emergence of barriers to cross-border e-procurement?
• How the EU can facilitate interconnectivity and interoperability
in e-procurement landscape?
• What further steps might be taken to improve the access of all
interested parties, SMEs in particular, to e-procurement
systems?
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/news_en.htm

11. European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
European e-Business Lab Conference| 29/10/10 | 11
Thank you for your attention
• Further information :
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/e-invoicing
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/index_en.htm
• Contact us :
entr-ict-for-comp-and-innovation@ec.europa.eu