EU Group Grope

Here's an outline of the process the European Union will engage to figure out how best to implement RFID technology:

The European Commission is about to launch a public online policy debate on the opportunities and challenges posed by Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Current trends and forecasts indicate that the RFID market will grow fast in the next ten years. One key challenge for decision-makers is to devise a common vision and set of goals of how RFID can keep Europe more innovative and competitive in the world economy while at the same time giving citizens the tools and choices they need to ensure privacy and security. Out of this perspective the Commission is inviting interested stakeholders to comment on the opportunities and challenges of RFID for government, industry and society at large aiming at building consensus on the right balance to strike between economic interests and the protection of citizens’ rights. Once the consultation has been completed it will, along with the results from a number of workshops on RFID held during May 2006, provide the basis for an open online consultation from which the European Commission will derive concrete elements for a Communication to Council and European Parliament which has been scheduled for the end of 2006.