Division 1 BACKGROUND

The European Commission (EC) has responded to the challenges of economic globalisation. In its broad-based innovation strategy, launched in September 2006, the EC observed, ‘In this new economic order, Europe cannot compete unless it becomes more inventive, reacts better to consumer needs and preferences and innovates more.’

Two aspects, efficiency and certainty, emerge as the basis for improving European competitiveness in a global economy. Making value chains more efficient reduces cost; improving the certainty of the environment in which they operate makes them more competitive. Therefore, achieving value chain efficiency and certainty is a foundation for innovation.

Streamlining the flow of information in any value chain will reduce inefficiencies, improve certainty and reduce cost. As Europe moves to adopt the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the business processes necessitating a vast majority of Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government payments should also be addressed. SEPA is expected to contribute significantly to the Lisbon Agenda.

The scope and objective of a European Electronic Invoicing (EEI) Framework is to provide the basis to achieve interoperability of e-Invoicing solutions in the public and private sector. It will derive a basis for interoperability through common business rules and technical standards. Assisting in strengthening the positive commercial incentives for electronic trade as a replacement to manual paper-based processes, the Framework will contribute to the removal of current barriers to the take-up and establishment of intra-community (cross-border) e-Invoicing solutions.