Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2004/387/EC of 28 April 2004 - Decision 2004/387/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the interoperable delivery of pan-European eGovernment services to public administrations, businesses and citizens (IDABC) (OJ L 144, 30.4.2004)
Date: 2004-05-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Mexico, agreement (EU), alcoholic beverage, enlargement of the Union, mutual recognition principle, product designation, revision of an agreement

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/25

CORRIGENDA

Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2004/387/EC of 28 April 2004 — Decision 2004/387/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the interoperable delivery of pan-European eGovernment
services to public administrations, businesses and citizens (IDABC)

(Official Journal of the European Union L 144 of 30 April 2004)

The text of Decision 2004/387/EC is replaced by the following text:

‘DECISION 2004/387/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 21 April 2004

on interoperable delivery of pan-European eGovernment services to public administrations, businesses and
citizens (IDABC)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and
in particular the first paragraph of Article 156 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social
Committee (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of
the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In accordance with Article 154 of the Treaty, to help achieve the
objectives referred to in Articles 14 and 158 thereof and to
enable citizens of the Union, economic operators and regional
and local communities to derive full benefit from the setting-up
of an area without internal frontiers, the Community contributes
to the
trans-European
networks.

and development of

establishment

Facilitating the mobility of businesses and citizens across
European borders
the
obstacles to the free movement of goods, persons, services
and capital as well as to the free establishment of nationals of
a Member State in the territory of another Member State.

to removing

contributes

directly

In accordance with Article 157 of the Treaty, the Community
the conditions
and the Member States are to ensure that
necessary for the competitiveness of the Community's industry
exist.

(1) OJ C 80, 30.3.2004, p. 83.
(2) OJ C 73, 23.3.2004, p. 72.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 November 2003 (not yet published
in the Official Journal). Council Common Position of 18 December 2003 (OJ
C 66 E, 16.3.2004, p. 22) and Position of the European Parliament of 11
March 2004 (not yet published in the Official
the
Council of 30 March 2004.

Journal). Decision of

By Decisions No 1719/1999/EC (4) and No 1720/1999/EC (5)
the European Parliament and the Council adopted a series of
actions, horizontal measures and guidelines including the iden-
tification of projects of common interest, with regard to trans-
European networks
the electronic interchange of data
between administrations (IDA). As those Decisions will expire
is necessary to provide for a
on 31 December 2004,
framework for the follow-up of the IDA programme as set up
by those Decisions.

for

it

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

The IDABC programme will build on the successes of
the
preceding IDA programmes, which have improved the effec-
tiveness of cross-border cooperation between public adminis-
trations.

In establishing and implementing the IDABC programme, which
is the follow-up to previous IDA programmes, due account
should be taken of the achievements of those programmes.

Work completed under the IDABC programme is likely to form
the basis for further work. This, combined with the fast pace of
technological
to be
adaptable to future developments.

the programme

change, will

require

The European Council, meeting in Lisbon in March 2000,
adopted conclusions aimed at preparing the transition of the
European Union by 2010 to the world's most competitive,
dynamic, and knowledge-based economy, capable of sustainable
economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social
cohesion.

The European Council, meeting in Brussels in March 2003, drew
attention to the importance of connecting Europe and so
strengthening the internal market and underlined that electronic
communications are a powerful engine for growth, competi-
tiveness and jobs in the European Union and that action
should be taken to consolidate this strength and to contribute
to the achievement of the Lisbon goals. To this end, the devel-
and establishment of pan-European eGovernment
opment
Services and the underlying telematic networks
should be
supported and promoted.

(4) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision No 2046/2002/

EC (OJ L 316, 20.11.2002, p. 4).

(5) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 9. Decision as amended by Decision No 2045/2002/

EC (OJ L 316, 20.11.2002, p. 1).

L 181/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.5.2004

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

to electronic communications
The elimination of obstacles
between public administrations at all levels and with businesses
as well as with citizens contributes to improving the European
business environment, lowering the administrative burden and
reducing red tape. It may also encourage businesses and citizens
of the European Union to reap the benefits of the information
society and to interact electronically with public administrations.

Enhanced delivery of eGovernment services enables businesses
and citizens to interact with public administrations without
special Information Technology (IT) skills or prior knowledge
of
functional organisation of a public adminis-
tration.

the internal

The deployment of trans-European telematic networks to inter-
change information between public administrations, Community
institutions and other entities,
such as European agencies,
services and organisations devoted to furthering the Commu-
nity's interests, should not be considered as the end, but as
the means to achieve interoperable information and interactive
eGovernment services at the pan-European level, building on
and extending to citizens and businesses the benefits resulting
from the cooperation between public administrations across
Europe.

(18)

(19)

(20)

exchange and service integration to ensure seamless interoper-
ability and thereby increasing the benefits of pan-European
eGovernment
trans-European
telematic networks.

and the underlying

services

The establishment of pan-European eGovernment services and
the underlying telematic networks of which the Community is a
user or a beneficiary is incumbent on both the Community and
the Member States.

It is essential to ensure close cooperation between the Member
States and the Community and, where relevant, the Community
institutions and stakeholders.

Actions at Community level should stimulate the successful
the pan-European
development of eGovernment services at
level and the associated measures required at all appropriate
levels,
the
Community.

the linguistic diversity of

taking due account of

consultations
to carry out a study,

The Commission undertakes and will update, as appropriate,
comprehensive
in
stakeholders
relevant sectors,
order
focusing on the needs of and benefits for citizens and busi-
nesses, with a view to preparing a list of necessary and beneficial
pan-European eGovernment services that could be implemented
within the whole duration of this Decision.

involving all
involving all

Pan-European eGovernment
services permit public adminis-
trations, businesses and citizens to interact better with public
administrations across borders. The delivery of these services
requires the availability of efficient, effective and interoperable
information and communication systems between public
administrations as well as interoperable administrative front
and back office processes in order to exchange in a secure
manner, understand and process public sector
information
across Europe.

the European Parliament and of

For the delivery of pan-European eGovernment Services it is
necessary to take into account the provisions of, in particular,
Directive 95/46/EC of
the
Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals
with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free
movement of such data (1) and Directive 2002/58/EC of the
European Parliament and of
the Council of 12 July 2002
concerning the processing of personal data and the protection
of privacy in the electronic communications sector (2).

(16)

in the context of the national efforts in
It is important that,
support of eGovernment, due consideration be given to the
priorities of the European Union.

(17)

is essential to maximise the use of standards or publicly
It
available specifications or open specifications for information

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No

1882/2003 (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37.

(21) While the participation of all Member States in actions in
support of pan-European eGovernment services provided by
public administrations to businesses and citizens should be
encouraged, actions comprising several Member States can be
initiated and Member States not participating should be
encouraged to join at a later stage.

(22)

(23)

(24)

(25)

(26)

Cross-fertilisation with relevant national,
regional and local
initiatives and delivery of eGovernment services within the
Member States should be ensured.

The Action Plan for eEurope 2005, endorsed by the European
in particular the
Council meeting in Seville in June 2002,
chapter on eGovernment, underlines the importance of
the
IDA programme
establishment of pan-
in fostering the
European eGovernment services in support of cross-border
activities thus complementing and providing a framework for
initiatives regarding eGovernment at all appropriate levels.

In order to make efficient use of the Community's financial
it is necessary to share the cost of pan-European
resources,
eGovernment services and the underlying telematic networks
between the Member States and the Community on an
equitable basis.

Productivity, responsiveness and flexibility in the establishment
and operation of pan-European eGovernment services and the
achieved by
underlying telematic networks
selecting
embracing a market-oriented approach and thus
suppliers on a competitive basis in a multi-vendor environment,
while ensuring, whenever appropriate,
the operational and
financial sustainability of measures.

can best be

Pan-European eGovernment services should be developed in the
context of specific projects of common interest and specific
horizontal measures. Other horizontal measures should be put
in place to support the interoperable delivery of these services
by establishing or enhancing infrastructure services.

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/27

(27)

(28)

(29)

(30)

(31)

The IDABC programme should consequently also be open to
participation by the countries of the European Economic Area
and the candidate countries, and cooperation with other third
countries should be encouraged. International entities may take
part in the implementation of projects of common interest and
horizontal measures at their own costs.

services and the underlying interoperable

telematic
eGovernment
networks supporting the Member States and the Community in the
implementation, within their
respective areas of competence, of
Community policies and activities, achieving substantial benefits for
public administrations, businesses and citizens.

In order to ensure the sound management of
the financial
resources of the European Union and to avoid needless prolif-
eration of equipment, repetition of investigations and diversity
of approach,
it should be possible to use services developed
under the IDA programme or the IDABC programme in the
the common foreign and security policy and
framework of
police
in
accordance with Titles V and VI of the Treaty on European
Union.

cooperation in criminal matters,

and judicial

Since the objective of establishing pan-European eGovernment
services cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States
and can therefore, by reason of the scale and effects of the
action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community
may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsi-
diarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with
the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this
Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to
achieve that objective.

The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision
should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/
468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the
exercise
the
Commission (1).

implementing

conferred

powers

on

of

for

the entire duration of
the
This Decision lays down,
programme, a financial
framework constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitu-
tional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European
Parliament, the Council and Commission on budgetary discipline
and improvement of
the
budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure,

the budgetary procedure (2),

for

2.

The programme aims also to:

(a) enable the efficient, effective and secure interchange of information
between public administrations at all appropriate levels, as well as
between such administrations and the Community institutions or
other entities as appropriate;

(b) extend the benefits of the interchange of information as specified
under (a) in order to facilitate the delivery of services to businesses
and citizens taking into account their needs;

(c) support

the Community decision-making process and facilitate
communication between the Community institutions by developing
the related strategic framework at the pan-European level;

(d) achieve interoperability, both within and across different policy
areas and, where appropriate, with businesses and citizens, notably
on the basis of a European Interoperability Framework;

(e) contribute to the efforts of Member State public administrations and
the Community in terms of streamlined operations, prompter imple-
mentation, security, efficiency,
transparency, service culture and
responsiveness;

(f) promote the spread of good practice and encourage the devel-
opment of innovative telematic solutions in public administrations.

Article 3

Definitions

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:

Article 1

Scope

This Decision establishes, for the period 2005-2009, a Programme for
to
Interoperable Delivery of pan-European eGovernment Services
European Public Administrations, Community institutions and other
entities and to European Businesses and Citizens
the
‘IDABC programme’).

(hereinafter

Article 2

Objective

(a)

‘Telematic network’ means a comprehensive data-communication
system, comprising the physical
infrastructure and connections as
well as the related services and application layers, thus enabling the
interchange of information electronically between and within public
administrations as well as between public administrations and busi-
nesses and citizens;

(b) ‘Pan-European eGovernment services’ means cross-border public
sector information and interactive services, either sectoral or hori-
i.e. of cross-sectoral nature, provided by European public
zontal,
to European public administrations, businesses,
administrations
including their asso-
including their associations, and citizens,
ciations, by means of
trans-European telematic
networks;

interoperable

1.
promote

The objective of the IDABC programme is to identify, support and
establishment of pan-European

development

and

the

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(2) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC
of the European Parliament and the Council (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25).

(c)

‘Project of common interest’ means a project in the policy areas
identified in Annex I, which is undertaken or continued under
this Decision,
or
enhancement of pan-European eGovernment services;

establishment

and which

concerns

the

L 181/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.5.2004

(d) ‘Infrastructure services’ means services provided to meet generic
solutions,
requirements,
including
security,
a
middleware and network services. Infrastructure services underpin
the delivery of pan-European eGovernment services;

and software
framework,

technology
interoperability

comprising
European

(e)

‘Horizontal measure’ means an action as identified in Annex II,
which is undertaken or continued under this Decision, and which
concerns the establishment or enhancement of horizontal pan-
European eGovernment services, infrastructure services or strategic
and support activities;

(f)

‘Interoperability’ means the ability of information and communi-
cation technology (ICT) systems and of
the business processes
they support
to exchange data and to enable information and
knowledge to be shared.

Article 4

Projects of common interest

to achieve the objectives

In order
the
Community shall, in cooperation with the Member States, implement
projects of common interest specified in the rolling work programme
referred to in Article 8(1), in accordance with the principles laid down
in Articles 6 and 7.

laid down in Article 2,

Projects of common interest shall, whenever possible, make use of the
horizontal pan-European eGovernment and infrastructure services and
contribute to the further development of these services.

Article 5

Horizontal measures

1.
In order to achieve the objectives laid down in Article 2, the
Community shall, in cooperation with the Member States, in support
of projects of common interest, undertake horizontal measures as iden-
tified in Annex II and specified in the rolling work programme referred
to in Article 8(1),
in accordance with the principles laid down in
Articles 6 and 7.

2.
Horizontal measures shall provide, maintain and promote infra-
structure services for public administrations in the Community on the
basis of a maintenance and access policy defined in the framework of
the IDABC programme. They shall also provide the management of
horizontal pan-European eGovernment services as well as establish
strategic and support activities to promote pan-European eGovernment
services, perform strategic analysis of related developments in the
Community and Member States, and ensure the management of the
programme and the spread of good practice.

3.
In order to be able to identify the horizontal measures to be
undertaken, the Community shall establish a description of horizontal
pan-European eGovernment and infrastructure services. The description
shall include aspects such as the necessary management, organisation,
related responsibilities and cost-sharing as well as a strategy to be used
in the development and implementation of the horizontal pan-European
eGovernment and infrastructure services. The strategy shall be based on
an assessment of project requirements. The description shall be reviewed
on a yearly basis.

Article 6

Implementation principles

In implementing projects of common interest and horizontal

1.
measures, the principles set out in paragraphs 2 to 10 shall apply.

This Decision is the legal basis for the implementation of hori-

2.
zontal measures.

requirement when it

3.
The implementation of a project shall require a sectoral legal basis.
For the purposes of this Decision, a project shall be considered to fulfil
this
the delivery of pan-European
eGovernment services to public administrations, to businesses or to
legal
citizens in the framework of the implementation of a sectoral
basis or any other relevant legal basis.

supports

This paragraph shall not apply to projects of common interest that
support the delivery of eGovernment services between Community insti-
tutions and European Agencies.

4.
Participation of the largest possible number of Member States in a
project in support of pan-European eGovernment services provided by
public administrations to businesses, including their associations, or by
public administrations to citizens, including their associations, shall be
encouraged.

5.
shall
Projects of common interest and horizontal measures
encompass all actions necessary for the establishment or enhancement
of pan-European eGovernment services.

Projects of common interest and horizontal measures

shall
6.
a preparatory phase. They shall
include, whenever
comprise a feasibility phase, a development and validation phase, and
an implementation phase to be implemented in accordance with Article
7.

appropriate,

This paragraph shall not apply to strategic and support activities as
defined in Part C of Annex II.

7.
Results achieved by other relevant Community and Member States
activities, in particular the Community research and technological devel-
opment programmes and other Community programmes and policies,
such as eTEN (1), eContent (2) eInclusion, eLearning (3) and MODINIS (4)
shall be taken into account, whenever appropriate, in the definition of
projects of common interest and horizontal measures in order to avoid
duplication and to speed up the development of eGovernment services.
Projects in the planning or the development phase shall also be taken
into account.

specifications

8.
Projects of common interest or horizontal measures shall be tech-
nically specified with reference to European standards or publicly
available
information
exchange and service integration and shall comply with the infra-
structure services, as appropriate,
in order to ensure interoperability
and accessibility between national and Community systems within
and across administrative sectors and with businesses and citizens.

specifications

open

for

or

Projects of common interest and horizontal measures shall, where
the European interoperability
IDABC

9.
appropriate,
account of
framework provided, maintained and promoted by the
programme.

take due

(1) OJ L 183, 11.7.1997, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 14, 18.1.2001, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 9.
(4) OJ L 336, 23.12.2003, p. 1.

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/29

A post-implementation review of each project of common
10.
interest or horizontal measure shall be carried out within one year
following the end of the implementation phase.

The preparatory report and the global implementation plan shall
6.
be established by making use of methodologies prepared as a support
activity in the framework of the IDABC programme.

A review shall include a cost-benefit analysis.

In the case of projects of common interest the review shall be carried
out in coordination with the Member States in conformity with the
rules governing the sectoral policy and presented to the relevant
sectoral committee.

The initiation and implementation of a project of common
7.
interest, the definition of its phases and the establishment of preparatory
reports and global
implementation plans shall be carried out and
controlled by the Commission acting in accordance with the relevant
sectoral committee procedure.

Conclusions and recommendations resulting from the review of projects
of common interest shall be presented to the committee referred to in
Article 11(1) for information.

Where no sectoral committee procedure applies, the Community and
the Member States shall set up groups of experts to examine all relevant
issues.

In the case of horizontal measures the review shall be carried out within
the framework of the committee referred to in Article 11(1).

Article 7

Additional principles

In addition to the principles set out in Article 6, the principles set

1.
out in paragraphs 2 to 8 shall apply.

The preparatory phase shall

lead to the establishment of a
2.
preparatory report comprising the objectives, scope and rationale of
the project of common interest or horizontal measure and in particular
the anticipated costs and benefits, as well as the achievement of the
necessary commitment and understanding among the participants
the
through appropriate consultation,
committee competent to follow the implementation of the project or
measure.

including an indication of

The feasibility phase shall

3.
lead to the establishment of a global
implementation plan, which shall cover the development and imple-
mentation phases and comprise the information contained in the
preparatory report as well as:

(a) a description of planned organisational development and, whenever

appropriate, the re-engineering of working procedures;

(b) objectives, functionalities, participants and technical approach;

conclusions

The
and, where
applicable, from groups of experts shall be reported by the Commission
to the committee referred to in Article 11(1).

resulting from sectoral

committees

8.
The initiation and implementation of a horizontal measure, the
definition of its phases and the establishment of preparatory reports and
global implementation plans shall be carried out and controlled by the
Commission acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 11(2).

Article 8

Implementation procedure

1.
The Commission shall establish a rolling work programme for the
whole duration of this Decision for the implementation of projects of
common interest and horizontal measures. The Commission shall
approve the work programme and, at least once a year, any modifi-
cation thereof, taking into account, as the case may be, the budget
breakdown per project of common interest and horizontal measure.

The procedure referred to in Article 11(2) shall apply in respect of the
approval by the Commission of the rolling work programme and any
modifications thereof.

(c) measures to facilitate multilingual communication;

(d) measures to ensure security and protection of data;

For each project of common interest and for each horizontal
2.
measure, the work programme referred to in the first paragraph shall,
where appropriate, include:

(e)

the assignment of roles to the Community and to the Member
States;

(f) a breakdown of the expected costs and a description of the expected
benefits, including assessment criteria for measuring those benefits
beyond the implementation phase and a detailed analysis of return
on investment as well as milestones to be reached;

(g) a

an equitable

schema which defines

sharing between the
Community and the Member States and, whenever appropriate,
the
other entities, of
on
pan-European
conclusion of the implementation phase.

the operational and maintenance costs of
services

eGovernment

infrastructure

and

During the development and validation phase,

the solution
4.
proposed may,
tested, evaluated and
monitored on a small scale, and the results shall be used to adjust
the global implementation plan accordingly.

relevant, be constructed,

if

5.
During the implementation phase, the fully functional services
concerned shall be established in accordance with the global implemen-
tation plan.

(a) a description of the objectives, scope, rationale, potential benefi-

ciaries, functionalities and technical approach;

(b) a breakdown of past expenditure and milestones reached, as well as
the costs and benefits anticipated and the milestones to be reached;

(c) a specification of the horizontal pan-European eGovernment and

infrastructure services to be used.

Article 9

Budgetary provisions

1. Without prejudice to Article 8, the procedure referred to in Article
11(2) shall apply in respect of the approval by the Commission of the
budget per project of common interest or horizontal measure, as
necessary, to cover, subject to the applicable budget rules, the rolling
work programme and any modifications thereof,
in accordance with
Article 8(1).

L 181/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.5.2004

Funds shall be released on the basis of the reaching of specific
2.
milestones in accordance with the procedure applicable to the relevant
sectoral committee for projects of common interest and to the
committee referred to in Article 11(1) for horizontal measures. For
the initiation of
the preparatory phase the milestone shall be the
inclusion of the project of common interest or horizontal measure to
be undertaken in the rolling work programme. For the initiation of the
feasibility phase the milestone shall be the preparatory report. For the
the subsequent development and validation phase the
initiation of
milestone shall be the global
implementation plan. Milestones to be
reached during the development and validation phase as well as the
implementation phase
rolling work
programme in accordance with Article 8.

included in the

shall be

3.
The procedure referred to in Article 11(2) shall also apply in
for any budgetary increase of more than
respect of proposals
EUR 100 000 per project of common interest or horizontal measure
within a year.

The programme shall be implemented on the basis of the rules of
4.
public procurement. The technical specifications of the calls for tender
shall, for contract values in excess of EUR 500 000, be defined in coor-
dination with the Member States in the framework of the relevant
sectoral committee or the committee referred to in Article 11(1).

Article 10

Community financial contribution

In the implementation of projects of common interest and hori-
1.
zontal measures, the Community shall bear costs in proportion to its
interest.

The financial contribution of the Community for each project of
2.
common interest or horizontal measure shall be determined in
accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7.

For a project of common interest or a horizontal measure to
3.
receive a financial contribution from the Community, concrete plans
for financing the maintenance and operational costs of the post-imple-
mentation phase shall be required, with a clear assignment of roles to
the Community and to the Member States or to other entities.

In the preparatory and feasibility phases, the Community contri-

4.
bution may cover the full cost of the necessary studies.

In the development and validation phase and in the implemen-
5.
tation phase, the Community shall bear the cost of those tasks which
are assigned to it in the global implementation plan of that project of
common interest or horizontal measure.

Community funding of a project of common interest or a hori-
6.
zontal measure concerning the delivery and maintenance of
infra-
structure services shall, in principle, cease after a maximum period of
four years from the start of the preparatory phase.

7.
The financial resources provided for under this Decision shall not
be assigned to projects of common interest and horizontal measures or
phases of projects of common interest and horizontal measures which
benefit from other sources of Community funding.

By 31 December 2006, mechanisms to ensure the financial and
8.
operational sustainability of
infrastructure services, whenever appro-
priate, shall be defined and agreed in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 11(2).

Article 11

Committee

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee called the Pan-

1.
European eGovernment Services Committee (PEGSCO).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of
Council Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to Article 8
thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be
set at three months.

3.

The PEGSCO shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 12

Annual report

The Commission shall report annually to the PEGSCO on the imple-
mentation of this Decision.

Article 13

Evaluation

1.
The Commission shall, in coordination with the Member States,
carry out a final evaluation of the implementation of this Decision at
the end of the programme.

the Commission shall,

2. Moreover,
in coordination with the
Member States, carry out an evaluation of the implementation of this
Decision by mid-2006 at the latest. This evaluation shall also assess,
inter alia, the effectiveness and efficiency of the IDABC activities as well
as include a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of performance
against the work programme.
In the context of this evaluation the
Commission shall report on the consistency of the amount for 2007-
2009 with the financial perspective. If applicable, the Commission shall
take the necessary steps within the budgetary procedures for 2007-
2009 to ensure the consistency of the annual appropriations with the
financial perspective.

3.
The evaluations shall establish the progress and current status of
the projects of common interest and horizontal measures identified in
Annexes I and II respectively and in particular how the intended pan-
European eGovernment services are developed, implemented and used.

in the light of the expenditure
The evaluations shall also examine,
incurred by the Community, the benefits yielded by the pan-European
eGovernment and infrastructure services to the Community for the
advancement of common policies and institutional cooperation as far
as public administrations, businesses and citizens are concerned and
improvement and verify synergies with
identify areas for potential
other Community activities in the area of pan-European eGovernment
and infrastructure services.

The Commission shall forward the results of its quantitative and
4.
qualitative evaluations to the European Parliament and the Council
together with any appropriate proposals for the amendment of this
Decision. The results shall be forwarded before presentation of the
draft general budget of the European Union for the years 2007 and
2010 respectively.

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/31

Article 14

International cooperation

1.
The IDABC programme may be opened, within the framework of
their respective agreements with the Community, to participation by the
countries of the European Economic Area and the candidate countries.

2.
Cooperation with other third countries, in implementing projects
of common interest and horizontal measures, shall be encouraged,
the
notably with public administrations in Mediterranean countries,
Balkans and eastern European countries. Particular attention shall also
be given to international cooperation in support of development and
economic cooperation. Related costs shall not be covered by the IDABC
programme.

International organisations or other international entities may take
3.
part in the implementation of projects of common interest and hori-
zontal measures at their own cost.

Article 15

Other networks

discuss the possibility of upgrading these services in order to extend
their use.

5.
The horizontal pan-European eGovernment and infrastructure
services developed within the Community framework under the IDA
or the IDABC programme may be used by the Council with regard to
the establishment or enhancement of activities in the framework of the
common foreign and security policy and police and judicial cooperation
in criminal matters in accordance with Titles V and VI of the Treaty on
European Union respectively.

The use of such services shall be decided upon and financed in
accordance with Titles V and VI of that Treaty.

Article 16

Financial framework

The

financial

framework

1.
the
for
Community action under this Decision for the period from 1 January
2005 to 31 December 2009 is hereby set at EUR 148,7 million, of
which EUR 59,1 million is for the period until 31 December 2006.

implementation of

the

1. With regard to the establishment or enhancement of other
networks which are not projects of common interest or horizontal
measures (hereinafter referred to as ‘other networks’), Member States
and the Community shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the Community legislation governing the implementation of those
networks, ensure compliance with paragraphs 2 to 5.

Subject to paragraph 3, horizontal pan-European eGovernment
2.
and infrastructure services provided by the Community within the
framework of this Decision may be used by other networks.

3.
Each of the other networks shall be technically specified with
reference to European standards or publicly available specifications or
open specifications for information exchange and service integration, as
appropriate,
in order to ensure interoperability between national and
Community systems within and across administrative sectors and with
businesses and citizens.

4.
the
By 31 October 2005, and at yearly intervals thereafter,
Commission shall forward to the PEGSCO a report on the implemen-
tation of paragraphs 1 to 5. In that report, the Commission shall specify
any relevant user requirements or any other reason that prevents other
networks from making use of the services under paragraph 2, and

For the period following 31 December 2006, the amount shall be
deemed to be confirmed if it is consistent for this phase with the
financial perspective in force for the period commencing in 2007.

2.
The annual appropriations for the period from 2005 to 2009
shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limit of the
financial perspective.

Article 17

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2009.

Done at Strasbourg, 21 April 2004.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

D. ROCHE

L 181/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.5.2004

ANNEX I

POLICY AREAS FOR PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST

Projects of common interest under the IDABC programme are those established notably in the following areas:

A. IN GENERAL

1. Community policies and activities (in accordance with section B),

information exchange (in
international cooperation (in accordance with section D) as well as other networks

interinstitutional

accordance with section C),
(in accordance with section E).

2.

3.

Functioning of the European Agencies and bodies and in support of the legal framework arising from the creation of
the European Agencies.

Policies related to the free movement of persons, notably in support of the delivery of equal services to citizens and
businesses in the various Member States.

4 Actions which, within the framework of Community policies and activities and in unforeseen circumstances, are

urgently required to support the action of the Community and the Member States.

B. COMMUNITY POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES

1.

Economic and monetary policy.

2. Consolidation of the ‘acquis communautaire’ following the enlargement of the European Union.

3. Regional and cohesion policies, notably to facilitate the collection, management, and dissemination of information
concerning the implementation of regional and cohesion policies at the level of central and regional public admin-
istration.

4. Community funding, notably to create an interface with existing Commission databases in order to facilitate the

access of European organisations, and particularly SMEs, to Community sources of funding.

5.

Statistics, notably regarding the collection and dissemination of statistical information, as well as statistics in support
of eGovernment, in order to evaluate interoperability between systems and their efficiency as a measure of success.

6.

Publication of official documents and management of official information services.

7. Agricultural and fisheries sectors, notably regarding support

for the management of agricultural markets and
structures, more efficient financial management, exchange of farm accounts data between national agencies and
the Commission, and the fight against fraud.

8.

Industry and services sectors, notably concerning the exchange of information between public administrations in
charge of business competitiveness issues, and between such public administrations and industry federations.

9. Competition policy, notably through the implementation of improved electronic data exchange with the national

public administrations in order to facilitate information and consultation procedures.

10. Education, culture and audio-visual sector, notably for the exchange of information concerning content issues on
open networks and to promote the development and free circulation of new audio-visual and information services.

11. Transport sector, notably for the support of the exchange of data concerning drivers, vehicles, ships and transport

operators.

12. Tourism, environment, consumer protection and public health, and public procurement.

13. Research policy, in particular to facilitate the collection, management and dissemination of information concerning

the implementation of coordinated research policies at the level of national public administrations.

14. Contributions to the objectives of the eEurope initiative and the related action plan, in particular the chapter on

eGovernment and security, aimed at benefiting businesses and citizens.

15. Immigration policy, notably through the implementation of improved electronic data exchange with the national

public administrations in order to facilitate information and consultation procedures.

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/33

16. Cooperation between judicial authorities.

17. Information systems allowing the participation of national parliaments and civil society in the legislative process.

18. Follow-up of the implementation of Community legislation in the Member States and exchange of information

between Member States and Community institutions.

C. INTERINSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Interinstitutional exchange of information, notably:

1.

in support of the Community decision-making process and Parliamentary questions;

2. for the setting-up of the necessary telematic links between the Commission, European Parliament, the Council
(including the site of the European Union Presidency-in-office, the Permanent Representation of the Member States
and cooperating national ministries) and other Community institutions;

3. to facilitate multilingualism in interinstitutional information exchanges, means of translation workflow management
and translation support tools, the development and sharing of multilingual resources, and the organisation of common
access to such resources;

4. for document sharing between European Agencies and bodies and the Community institutions.

D. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Extension of projects of common interest to third countries, including candidate countries, and international organi-
sations, with particular attention to initiatives for development and economic cooperation.

The projects of common interest which were previously funded by the IDA programme and which now have their own
Community funding nevertheless fall within the group ‘other networks’ referred to in Article 14 of this Decision.

E. OTHER NETWORKS

L 181/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.5.2004

ANNEX II

HORIZONTAL MEASURES

Horizontal measures under the IDABC programme are notably:

A. HORIZONTAL PAN-EUROPEAN eGOVERNMENT SERVICES

Horizontal measures undertaken to initiate, enable and manage the provision of horizontal pan-European eGovernment
services, including organisational and coordination aspects, such as:

(a) a portal to provide access to pan-European, multilingual online information and interactive services to businesses and

citizens;

(b) a single point of access to e.g. legal online information services in Member States;

(c) an interactive application for collecting stakeholders' opinions and experience on issues of public interest and on the

functioning of Community policies.

B. INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Horizontal measures undertaken to provide and maintain technology and software solutions as services providing specific
ICT-related functionalities, from communications to defined standards. Technology and software solutions comprise
network services, middleware, security and guidelines, such as:

(a)

a secure and reliable communication platform for the interchange of data between public administrations;

(b) a secure and reliable system for the management of dataflows inter-linked with different workflows;

(c)

a common toolkit for the management of multilingual collaborating web sites and portals;

(d) platform accreditation with a view to handling classified information;

(e)

establishment and implementation of an authentication policy for networks and projects of common interest;

(f)

security studies and risk analysis in support of networks or other infrastructure services;

(g) mechanisms to establish trust between certification authorities to allow for the use of electronic certificates in pan-

European eGovernment services;

(h)

identification, authorisation, authentication and non-repudiation services for projects of common interest;

(i)

(j)

a common framework for sharing and interchanging information and knowledge between European public admini-
strations and with businesses and citizens, including architecture guidelines;

specification of XML vocabularies, schemae and related XML deliverables to support the interchange of data in
networks;

(k)

functional and non-functional model requirements for the management of electronic records in public adminis-
trations;

(l)

a metadata framework for public sector information in pan-European applications;

(m) comparison of open exchange standards with a view to establishing a policy on open formats;

(n) common specifications and infrastructure services facilitating electronic procurement across Europe;

(o) machine translation systems and other multilingual tools, including dictionaries, thesaurus and classification systems

in support of multilingualism;

18.5.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 181/35

(p) applications to support cooperative work between public administrations;

(q) applications to support multi-channel access to services;

(r) open source software-based tools and actions to facilitate the exchange of experiences between, and the take-up of

solutions by, public administrations.

C. STRATEGIC AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES

1.

Strategic activities in support of the assessment and promotion of pan-European eGovernment services, such as:

(a) analysis of eGovernment and Information Management (IM) strategies across Europe;

(b) organisation of awareness-raising events involving the stakeholders concerned;

(c) promotion of the establishment of pan-European eGovernment services with special attention to services to

businesses and citizens.

2.

Support activities undertaken in support of programme management aiming at monitoring and improving the
effectiveness and efficiency of the programme, such as:

(a) quality assurance and control to improve the specification of project objectives as well as project execution and

results;

(b) programme evaluation and cost-benefit analysis of specific projects of common interest and horizontal measures.

3.

Support activities undertaken to promote the spread of good practice in the application of information technologies
to public administrations, such as:

(a) reports, web sites, conferences and, in general, initiatives addressed to the public;

(b) monitoring, analysis and web site dissemination of initiatives and best practice related to eGovernment actions at

Member State, Community and international level;

(c) promotion of the spread of best practice in the use of e.g. open source software by public administrations.’