European Independent Software Vendors Announce the Creation of the European Software Association.

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- A group of 26 European Independent Software Vendor (ISV) companies today announced the creation of the European Software Association during a public event held in the European Parliament. The Association, a trade organisation representing the European software industry, aims to become the principal interface with European Union institutions, the media and the general public on matters impacting the software industry. It will also place its members at the centre of best practice and enhance professional cooperation across the business community.

Jeremy Roche, Chairman of the board of directors said: "We firmly believe this industry can make a major contribution toward innovation in Europe. It already provides economic and social benefits through the considerable revenues it generates and the large number of people it employs. By cooperating more closely with policy makers at the European Union level and with users in other trade organisations, we believe that we can also help make other European industries more competitive. To achieve this vision we need representation through the European Software Association."

Original ISVs forming the Association include Business Objects SA, CEGID, CODA Group, Dassault Systemes, Hogia AB, LogicaCMG, Mamut ASA, Microsoft, SAP, Unicorn, Unit4Agresso and Vidus. The European Software Association has its roots in a number of meetings held for European ISV CEOs last year to address software industry issues. Realising the advantage of a permanent institution to advocate software industry interests with key audiences in Europe, participants undertook the initiative to create the European Software Association.

The founding group of ISVs has since met with senior representatives of the European Commission who have endorsed the move. Jesus Villasante, Head of the European Commission's Software Technology unit, will acknowledge the creation of the Association by addressing its opening session.

The principal mission of the European Software Association will be to shape the European software industry as a whole by working with EU legislators and other industry stakeholders. Additionally, the Association will become a focus for common policy and best practice, in cooperation with trade associations representing other industries and will support the research and education communities with specific programmes.

In the coming months, ramp-up activities will dominate the agenda with Association Board members meeting EU Parliamentarians and Commission officials responsible for software legislation, auditing current legislative projects, driving membership efforts in the ISV community and creating education and networking programmes that support the activities of Association members.

Presently, the European Software Association comprises 26 members and based on the considerable interest shown so far, expects that number to rise significantly in the near future. The Association is headed by Chairman of the Board ad interim, Jeremy Roche, CEO of CODA Group. Mr. Roche governs the Interim Board consisting of senior executives from eight member companies: Maurizio Carli Business Objects SA; Patrick Bertrand, CEGID; Philippe Forestier, Dassault Systemes; Bert-Inge Hogsved, Hogia AB; Eilert Hanoa, Mamut ASA; Vladimir Kovar, Unicorn; Chris Ouwinga, Unit4Agresso and Martin Knestrick, Vidus.

Members of the Interim board indicated that a wide variety of EU policy areas will be examined for action by the association's Public Policy group. The software industry is directly affected by a number of initiatives currently on the EU agenda, including intellectual property rights protection, appropriate actions against piracy, public funding for research and development, interoperability of systems, increased online security and the contribution of the software industry towards the Lisbon Partnership for Jobs and Growth (known as the Lisbon Agenda).

Eilert Hanoa, vice-chairman, said: "The European Software Association aims to help Commissioner Reding and her colleagues examine initiatives from unexplored angles and offer recommendations and counsel for efficient application of Directives. Basically, our aim is to ensure that the industry is properly represented before policy makers by providing them with the information they need to deliver effective legislation for the benefit of European industry and commerce as a whole."

About the European Software Association

Created in October 2005, the European Software Association is the voice of the European Independent Software Vendor (ISV) community. ISV members of the association work with EU policy makers and other European stakeholders to foster an environment that supports innovation and competitiveness within the European software industry, and that supports the needs of other European business communities.

The Founding members of the European Software Association are

1C                                     S.C. Info World S.R.L.
Abacus                                 KTW
AFAS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS                Lexware GmbH & Co. KG
Beta Systems Software AG               LogicaCMG
Business Objects S.A.                  Mamut ASA
CCS, S.A.                              Microsoft
Dassault Systemes                      msg systems ag
DATEV                                  Northgate Information Solutions
CEGID                                  SAP
CODA                                   UCS Software Manufacturing
Fenestrae B.V.                         Unicorn
F-Secure Corporation                   Unit 4 Agresso
Hogia AB                               Vidus

For information about the organisation or becoming a member, please visit: www.europeansoftware.org