On 25 October 2010, the Secure idenTity acrOss boRders linKed (STORK) project officially announced the launch of six pilot schemes offering secure electronic identity (eID) cross-border services of different types. These pilots will gradually be enhanced in order to prove and test the integration of the underlying STORK interoperability platform into existing real live portal services.

STORK, a project co-funded by the EU Information and Communication Technology Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), aims to implement a platform for interoperability of eIDs across 17 European countries. This platform enables citizens to use their national eIDs (identity cards, digital certificates) for eGovernment services in other European countries.

STORK Co-Chair, Professor Antonio Lioy from the Polytechnic University of Turin (Politecnico di Torino) in Italy, said: "The pilots will demonstrate to citizens and public administrations that interoperability of electronic identities is achievable in eGovernment services. They will highlight the added value citizens will receive by being able to assert their identities electronically in a protected, secure and private environment."

He added: "The eID framework will save public money, reduce time for both government and citizens, lessen the risk of misuse or fraud and create a wealth of opportunities. It is one more step towards a borderless EU marketplace."

The other STORK Co-Chair, senior advisor Arvid Welin from Sweden, said: "The STORK concept may also be an important stepping stone for private sector entities to develop new business models based on this secure cross-border authentication of citizens."

The six live STORK pilots are:

• Cross-border Authentication for Electronic Services: This pilot enables citizens to use their nationally issued eID to access the online public services of other Member States.
• Safer Chat: This pilot enables teachers to create tasks and safe chat rooms for their students to interact with their peers from other countries for cross-border eLearning purposes.
• Student Mobility: This pilot enables students to use their national eID to access online administrative services offered by universities in other countries, such as registration (for example to the Erasmus Programme) and authentication.
• Cross-border eDelivery: This pilot enables citizens to use their national eID to access eDelivery portals in other countries.
• Change of Address: This pilot aims to enable citizens to use their national eID to notify all relevant parties involved in an address change when citizens move to another country.
• Commission Services: This pilot aims to integrate STORK with the European Commission Authentication Service (ECAS). This will enable access to a number of European Commission applications.

Further information:

• Original news article - STORK Project
• Related ePractice Article - EU: STORK one Step Closer to eID Pilot Projects