E invoicing, e invoicing standardization in europe

European Committee for Standardization – European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization © CEN-CENELEC 2010

eInvoicing standardization in Europe

John KetchellDirector, Innovation: CEN-CENELEC Management CentreElectronic Invoicing in Europe, Madrid, 27-28 April 2010


CEN and eBusinessØ European Standards OrganizationØ 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 workØ We welcome the Expert Group recommendations

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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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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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Phase 2Ø 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 web5


Phase 3 – under wayØ 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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CEN and the Expert GroupØ 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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How it all fits togetherØ 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 describedØ The critical issue is for stakeholders to

participate and contribute to this workØ Our links and processes will ensure the

coherenceØ Awareness is the key to implementation

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Thank you

[email protected]

www.cen.euJoin the Workshop and find the CWAs at:

www.cen.eu/cen/Sectors/Sectors/ISSS/Activity/Pages/eInvoicing_2.aspx

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