Digital services interoperability programme ISA² - The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council finalised an agreement with the European Parliament
On 16 September 2015, the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament finalised an informal deal on a programme to help member states' public administrations provide interoperable digital services for citizens and businesses (ISA²). The agreement was reached in one trilogue meeting, on 2 September 2015, and completed in a number of technical meetings.
The new ISA² programme is set to run from 2016 to 2020, with a budget of about €131 million. The quick agreement should ensure that ISA² will be ready to kick in by the time the current ISA programme expires at the end of 2015.
ISA² will support electronic interaction across borders and sectors, in areas such as government, health, invoicing and procurement. It is also expected to make a significant contribution to the modernisation of European public administrations.
For the Council, the agreement still has to be confirmed by member states. The Presidency will present the agreed text for approval by member states' ambassadors at the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) on 23 September.
The Council adopted its position for these negotiations on 12 June 2015.