I googled this old announcement re: ACORD's eMerge project and the eEG7's SMILe project

[Ed Dodds <dodds@e-dodds.com>]

Standards Organizations Announce a New Initiative for Globalizing Insurance 
Standards 

Pearl River, NY - August 15, 2002 - ACORD (Association for Cooperative 
Operations Research and Development), an insurance standards setting 
organization with global reach and eEG7, the European standards body for the 
insurance industry have announced a common initiative aimed at developing a 
global basis for interoperable insurance messages.

Both organizations have agreed to harmonize the results of their respective 
initiatives: ACORD's eMerge project and the eEG7's SMILe project, allowing 
insurance and reinsurance companies, solution providers and intermediaries to 
work seamlessly with one another across borders.

"This combined effort will result in the creation of a real, global data model 
and a repository for the insurance industry," said Gregory A. Maciag, president 
and CEO, ACORD. "By working with eEG7, the idea of a true global standard for 
the insurance industry can be realized." Luc Sterck, chairman of eEG7 
added "eEG7 is pleased to make both its material and expertise available in 
order to produce global standards.  We are convinced that this agreement will 
give our achievements the visibility they deserve and will benefit the global 
insurance industry."

ACORD has solid foundations in the European insurance market covering 
reinsurance and large commercial and in the American insurance market covering 
life, annuity, property and casualty and reinsurance. ACORD also supports 
standards development and implementation in South Africa, Canada, Asia Pacific 
and Australia.

 eEG7 provides standards to the European insurance industry and has an in-depth 
knowledge of private insurance and commercial insurance. The common knowledge 
of the two organizations will further the global view of the insurance industry.

The collective initiative will be based upon the ebXML specifications and will 
be developed according to the UN/CEFACT specifications for international 
standards.

The initiative will be launched at the upcoming CEFACT Forum in Geneva, 
September 8-13.  Participation by all nations and standards organizations is 
welcome.

Note: A photograph of participants is available per your request. For further 
information please contact:

Beth Grossman
Assistant Vice President of Industry Relations, ACORD
bgrossman@acord.org
+1 845.620.1700 x421
www.acord.org

Henning Jensen
eEG7 Promotion Working Group Convenor
hj@forsikringenshus.dk
+45 33 43 56 36