Brussels, 09/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission presented the new IDABC programme (Interoperable Delivery of pan-European eGovernment services to public administrations) the aim of which is to provide pan-European on-line administrative services to public administrations, business and citizens. This decision comes the day after the European conference on public on-line authorities which was held in Como, Italy (see EUROPE of 9 July, p.10). As Member State governments provide an increasing number of on-line services to their citizens and enterprise, the new programme places emphasis on the need, for administrations, business and citizens, to dialogue by electronic means with the administrations of the other Member states. This programme is the follow-up of the IDA programme (Interchange of Data between Administrations), a strategic initiative taken by the Commission with a view to promoting rapid electronic exchange of information between the member State administrations and the European institutions. IDABC is an enlarged electronic governance programme that will cover the aims of the current IDA programme but will also create pan-European administrative services to the intention of business and citizens. The Commission thus intends to allow citizens and companies to benefit from the advantages of cooperation between public administrations throughout Europe.
In line with the Commission's e-Europe Action Plan 2005, the delivery of pan-European eGovernment services via interoperable networks will support the management of the single market and facilitate increased mobility across borders. They will also support the Community decision-making process and help businesses and citizens take part in the construction of an enlarged European Union. The IDABC programme will be launched on 1 January 2005 subject to its formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council. The new programme will include projects of common interest, that will help with implementing Community legislation and with improving interinstitutional cooperation. It will also include horizontal measures supporting interoperability. The Commission notes that in the absence of sytems of interoperable networks, all efficient cross border electeletrocic communciation would be impossivble. And yet this is a pre-requisite for the delivery of eGovernment services at the pan-European level. Therefore, the programme will develop and deliver infrastructure services based on European interoperability guidelines, to support the exchange of data and services. Such interoperable networks and services will allow Europe's businesses and citizens to interact electronically across Europe's borders with administrations in Member States other than their own thus bringing another dimension of the single market closer to reality.