This European Standard provides a reference of 40 competences as required and applied at the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) business related workplace@ using a common language for competences@ skills and proficiency levels that can be understood across Europe. As the first sector-specific implementation of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)@ this European Standard aligns its proficiency levels to the EQF learning levels. This European Standard was created for application by: ? ICT service@ user and supply companies@ ? ICT professionals@ managers and human resource (HR) departments@ ? vocational education institutions and training bodies including higher education@ ? social partners (trade unions and employer association)@ professional associations@ accreditation@ validation and assessment bodies@ ? market analysts and policy makers@ and other organizations and stakeholders in public and private sectors.