User:Virpi Taimela/sandbox

= Connecting Europe Facility Building Blocks =

The Connecting Europe Facility Building Blocks are basic digital capabilities offered by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. Building blocks are based on European legislation and standards to help Europeans implement some of the most commonly needed digital functionalities, such as exchanging messages, archiving documents and electronically identifying users. By using building blocks, digital services can be developed faster, easier and more cost-effectively using existing technologies, rather than each organisation developing them on their own. CEF also offers grant funding to its users wanting to adopt building blocks. There are eight building blocks to date, including eArchiving, Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI), Context Broker, eDelivery, eID, eInvoicing, eSignature and eTranslation. Each come with their own technical specifications, sample software (if applicable) and support services, such as help desk.

Building Blocks
Currently available building blocks in alphabetical order:


 * eArchiving provides sample specifications, software and support services for describing, transmitting and preserving data based on international standards.
 * Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) is a virtual sandbox where public administrations can experiment with different big data tools and techniques to innovate new digital services and solutions.
 * Context Broker centralises and consolidates data from different IoT data sources, enabling comprehensive analyses and real-time reports for more informed decision making.
 * eDelivery offers specifications, sample software and support services for setting up a registered delivery service infrastructure for exchanging data and documents.
 * eID helps to set up the technical infrastructure needed to electronically identify citizens businesses and public authorities from other European Member States, as defined in the eIDAS Regulation.
 * eInvoicing supports the seamless generation, sending, receiving and processing of electronic invoices across borders in line with the European Directive and standard on electronic invoicing.
 * eSignature helps to create and verify electronic signatures in line with the eIDAS Regulation.
 * eTranslate provides machine translation services that can be used on demand for translating text snippets and documents, or integrated directly into a digital service platform.

Parties involved
The CEF programme is a European Union (EU) fund aiming to achieve greater connectivity between EU Member States through the development of trans-European networks and infrastructures in the sectors of transport, energy and telecommunications. The Building Blocks are offered as part of CEF Digital, the programme’s digital arm under telecommunications.

The European Commission's Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT) is responsible for the definition of the building blocks. Their management and user on-boarding is overseen by the Directorate-General for Informatics. CEF grant funding supports the adoption of CEF building blocks. They are arranged through Calls for Proposals and are administered by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).