11 candidate countries to join IDA initiative in 2003
Nine candidate countries are to follow the example of Slovenia and Poland and join the EU's interchange of data between administrations (IDA) initiative from 1 January 2003. The initiative allows the administrations of EU Member States to exchange information regarding the supply of eGovernment services to citizens and enterprises, the enforcement of the internal market rules and the application of EU law. The initiative had already been extended to Slovenia and Poland, and will now be open to Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. Turkey and Malta are expected to follow in a few months time. The IDA's 25 million euro work programme for 2003 is currently in preparation.