This document sets out the details of the European Electronic Signature Standardization Initiative undertaken in response to the Mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in support of a European legal framework for electronic signatures [SOGITS 1064v4]. Whilst this is a European initiative it will draw upon, and feed into, appropriate global initiatives. This initiative will be managed by a Steering Group whose membership and methodology are set out in section 5.
The objective is to define the requirements for additional and modified consensus standards, specifications and guidance material in connection with the proposed Electronic Signature Directive. The initiative must contribute to two priority targets:
The Initiative shall prepare a report, which contains a proposed European programme of standards-related activity in response to the European Commission mandate on electronic signatures. The draft report shall be subject to public consultation before ICTSB endorsement for transmission to the European Commission and publication on the Internet.
The Initiative will be organized within the ICTSB, but open to any additional organizations with an interest: there will be a wide process of consultation on the market requirements and on the results.
The Initiative will be organized by a Steering Group with the membership foreseen in section 5.
The Initiative will run from 1 January until 30 June 1999. Interim milestones shall be in accordance with the proposed time scale.
The Steering Group shall comprise:
Each organization represented in the Steering Group may nominate up to two individual delegates, together with a representative of their Secretariat if required.
The ICTSB shall appoint a Steering Group Chair, to be nominated [from amongst ICTSB delegates] [as an expert in the field].
The Steering Group shall be assisted in its work by an Expert Team, financed under European Commission mandate.
The Expert Team shall research and prepare the drafts of the report. It shall comprise technical experts in relevant fields, together with an expert in the legal implications. The Team will be nominated on an "open call" basis, and the members selected by the Steering Group on the basis of balance and neutrality.
The Initiative will hold two consultation meetings.
The first of these should be reserved to invited experts and observers from European National Governments and National Standards Bodies and from a variety of international and European organizations with an interest in the broad subject area, for example ICC, the international standardization organizations, IETF, W3C, OECD, UNCITRAL, ANEC, etc.
The second shall be an open meeting, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to a maximum of 100.
The Steering Group shall make the necessary logistical arrangements.
In addition, the participating organizations in the Steering Group will make use of existing expert mailing lists under their control to ensure that the report receives input and comments from as broad as possible environment even in the drafting phase. The draft shall be made available on the Internet for consultation.
The report shall include at least the following specific items: