http://www.egov2005conference.gov.uk/documents/proceedings/pdf/051124declaration.pdf
A very scary document if you can be bothered to wade through it. Here is some of it:
As our eGovernment
services become more transactional, the need for secure electronic means of
identification for use by people accessing public services is essential for
citizen and business trust and in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of
our public administrations. Respect for, and recognition of, different forms of
eID to achieve interoperability are therefore key principles for future
eGovernment development.
Related Actions
Member States will, during 2006, agree a process and roadmap for achieving the
electronic identity objectives and address the national and European legal
barriers to the achievement of the electronic identity objectives.
Work in this area is essential for public administrations to deliver
personalised electronic services with no ambiguity as to the user's identity.
Member States will, over the period 2006-2010, work towards the mutual
recognition of national electronic identities by testing, piloting and
implementing suitable technologies and methods.
Member States will, by 2010, agree a framework for reference to, and where
appropriate the use and sustainable archiving of, authenticated electronic
documents.