Qualified electronic signature
Forum of European Supervisory Authorities for Electronic Signatures
The Bundesnetzagentur, as the competent authority under section 3 of the Electronic Signatures Act (SigG) is a founding member of the Forum of European Supervisory Authorities for Electronic Signatures (FESA) established in 2002. FESA holds two meetings a year for its members, which include supervisory authorities in the Member States as well as representatives of the European Commission. FESA was founded pursuant to Directive 1999/93/EC on a Community framework for electronic signatures, which required the EU Member States to establish a system for the supervision of service providers issuing qualified certificates. The forum serves to present developments in the field of electronic signatures, planned legislative measures in the Member States and supervisory procedures with cross-border relevance and to work out solutions to problems. The meetings also facilitate the exchange of information on recent technical developments in this security-related high-technology area, with the aim of carrying out supervision within and across borders and providing advice to consumers and companies within the countries.
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
The Bundesnetzagentur's section responsible for electronic signatures continues to participate in activities within ETSI's Technical Committee (TC) for Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI).
German Institute for Standardization (DIN)
The section also participates at national level in the activities of DIN's Standards Committee on Information Technology and Applications (NIA) (sub-committee NIA 27).