ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22/WG9 N402
23 May 2002

Request for Establishment of Category C Liaison
between ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 22/WG 9 and Ada-Europe

The JTC1 Directives (Part 1) provide that:

"3.3.1.1 Establishment of liaison should be initiated by a written liaison statement from the requester and confirmed by the receiver. A liaison statement should include:

"3.3.4.2 ... Category C [liaisons are] organizations which make an effective technical contribution and participate actively at the WG or project level of JTC 1 or its SCs. ... Category C liaisons are proposed by JTC 1 to the ITTF after receiving a recommendation from the appropriate JTC 1 subsidiary body, i.e., an SC (or WG reporting directly to JTC 1) ... Each request for liaison status forwarded to JTC 1 from an appropriate JTC 1 subsidiary body must contain a statement of expected benefits and responsibilities accepted by both the JTC 1 organization and the organization requesting liaison status. ..."

This document is the "written liaison statement" required by sub-clause 3.3.1.1 and the "statement of expected benefits and responsibilities" required by sub-clause 3.3.4.2.
 
Identification of the Requester Ada-Europe

http://www.ada-europe.org/

Prof. Erhard Ploedereder, PhD, President of Ada-Europe
Universität Stuttgart
Institut für Informatik
Breitwiesenstr. 20-22
D-70565 Stuttgart
Germany
Phone: +49 +711 7816-322
FAX: +49 +711 7816-380
Email: ploedere@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de

Reason for Liaison Ada-Europe is an international organization, set up to promote the use of Ada. It aims to spread the use and the knowledge of Ada and to promote its introduction into academic and research establishments. Above all, Ada-Europe intends to represent European interests in Ada and Ada-related matters. 

In its current form, Ada-Europe was established in 1988. As there is no European legal framework to govern such organizations, it was established according to Belgian Law. Currently, the member organizations are: Ada-Belgium, Ada-Denmark, Ada-Deutschland, Ada-France, Ada-Spain, Ada in Sweden, Ada in Switzerland and Ada UK. Individual members of these organizations can become indirect members of Ada-Europe. Direct membership is available to individuals in countries without national member organization. At the moment, Ada-Europe has about 350 indirect members. 

The best-known of Ada-Europe's activities is its annual conference, now in its 22nd year, which provides the European forum for researchers and users of Ada and other technologies geared towards reliable systems. Ada-Europe publishes the Ada User Journal to keep its members and others abreast of the latest developments related to Ada.

In the past, Ada-Europe members have played an important, but individual, role in the standardization work of SC22/WG9. For example, ISO/IEC 18009 incorporates technical material provided by Ada-Europe members.

A category C liaison relationship will permit the exchange of technical materials on a systematic basis permitting WG9 to improve the technical review of its documents and increase their relevancy to the Ada user community and the marketplace. 

Type of Liaison Formal Liaison

"3.3.2.2 ... Formal liaison is a formal exchange of documents between two organizations for the purpose of keeping each other informed of their work."

Category of Liaison Category C with JTC 1/SC22/WG 9
Liaison Representative Not applicable because formal liaison is requested in accordance with JTC1 Directives (Part 1), sub-clause 3.3.2.2.
Statement of Expected Benefits and Responsibilities The liaison organization will have the following responsibilities:
  • Designate an individual to serve as the focal point for managing the liaison relationship. 
  • Upon request, perform technical review of Working Drafts under development by WG9 and provide the result in the form of a consolidated set of comments. 
  • Upon request, perform technical review of draft disposition of comments received on Committee Draft ballots. 
  • Upon request, designate individuals to serve as invited participants in Rapporteur Groups and other OWGs of WG9. 
  • Individuals designated by Ada-Europe to participate in the liaison relationship will "pay any meeting and documentation expenses that other participants are required to pay." (JTC1 Directives, Part 1, 3.3.4.2).
SC22/WG9 will have the following responsibilities:
  • Add the designated liaison focal point to any distribution of information regarding meetings and planning. 
  • Distribute Working Draft documents to the designated focal point of the liaison organization and receive consolidated commentary for consideration by WG9. 
  • Distribute draft disposition of comment material to the designated focal point of the liaison organization and receive consolidated commentary for consideration by WG9. 
  • When appropriate, invite the liaison organization to designate individuals to participate in Rapporteur Groups and other OWGs of WG9. 
  • On a two-year cycle, determine whether the liaison relationship is working effectively and accordingly report to SC22 for forwarding to JTC1 and ITTF (in accordance with JTC1 Directives, Part1, 3.3.4.2). This responsibility is delegated to the WG9 Convener.
SC22/WG9 will benefit from this arrangement by having more direct access to technical expertise useful in improving the standards that it develops.

The liaison organization will benefit from this arrangement by the ability to provide systematic technical review prior to the enquiry stage of processing.