Established by Decision 2004/387/EC IDABC is a new programme that aims to identify, support and promote the development of interoperable pan-European e-Government services. IDABC will build on the achievements of the preceding IDA programmes, which focused on improving the effectiveness of telematic information exchanges between public administrations.

The development of pan-European e-Government services will be done through the establishment of networks in specific Community policy sectors (projects of common interest) and will be supported by horizontal measures. These include for example, the establishment of portals for businesses and citizens, the provision of technology and software solutions and other support activities.

Issues of security, accreditation and interoperability will remain central in the agenda of the IDABC but the programme will also face the challenging task of defining its new orientation. Identifying the services that businesses and citizens need in their cross-border interactions with the administrations of different Member States will be one of the first tasks undertaken to define concrete actions for the new IDABC programme.

The IDABC Decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 181 of 18 May 2004 and will enter into force on the 1st of January of 2005.