Open standards

Open standards is a standard that is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it, and may also have various properties of how it was designed (e.g. open process). There is no single definition and interpretations vary with usage. 

The EC started the work on clarification in its Digital Agenda, identified "lock-in" as a problem (in 2011), and its "Action 23" (from 2013) committed to providing guidance on the link between ICT standardisation and public procurement to help public authorities use standards to promote efficiency and reduce lock-in.

NB: The Action 23 - is part of Digital Agenda Pillar II - interoperability standards.

The issue is followed by internal debate and external debate