A proposal has been made to create a single committee to oversee Java specifications rather than having Java EE/SE and Java ME specs being dealt with separately.
The JSR (Java Specification Request) to merge the two existing Java Community Process Executive Committees into one was submitted by Oracle's Patrick Curran, JCP chairman.
The merged executive committee that would make a "modest reduction" in the total number of members from the current total of 32, the existing two-to-one ratio of ratified to elected seats will be maintained, and on the merged EC neither Oracle nor any other member may hold more than one seat.
The argument made in favor of the merger was:
Changes in the Java ME market, and the increasing maturity and consolidation of the Java market generally, suggests that some rebalancing between Java ME and the other platforms, together with a modest reduction in the total number of EC members, would be appropriate. Looking forward, the expected convergence between Java ME and Java SE is likely to render the current division into two separate ECs increasingly irrelevant.
and summed up as:
Since Java is One Platform, it ought to be overseen by a single Executive Committee.
The request is now being handled by an Expert Group with representatives from Oracle, IBM, Intel, Siemens and other and will be resolved in about six months.
