Geneva, Switzlerland, ​19 March 2014

Closing Address

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank you all for your participation in this meeting.

The level of participation by so many experts is very much appreciated and I believe it reflects the importance of these discussions.  The outcome of these discussions will be very important for international standardization, and it is in everyone’s best interests to agree on a way forward.

I believe some progress has been made. At least everyone now surely fully understands each other’s views, concerns and interests.  But with only one meeting left before TSAG in June there is little time left for you to reach agreement on a compromise text.

We have all put so much time and effort into this exercise that there has to be a result.

I understand all of the positions and the need for a balance between the implementer and the innovator, but as I have said it is the nature of a compromise that neither side gets everything that it wants and has to give up on some of its proposals.

I very much hope that a compromise will emerge before the end of the net meeting in May. The deadline for me to submit a document to TSAG is 4 June, so soon after the next meeting of the group.

I would much prefer to put to TSAG a proposal that has the consensus of this group. I want it to represent a balance of interests and I am really relying on you to provide me with this.I very much appreciate the efforts of all of you, especially our dedicated moderators, and in particular Serge Raes who has expertly led the meeting through the agenda and maintained the good spirit in the room despite the contentious issues being discussed.

I wish you all a safe trip home and hope to see you all at the next meeting in Brussels.