3.8.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 203/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 1719/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 July 1999 on a series of guidelines, including the identification of projects of common interest, for trans- European networks for the electronic interchange of data between administrations (IDA) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 156 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (?), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), (1)  Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 20 June 1994 (°), emphasised the need for coordination with regard to information exchange between administra- tions; (2)  Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 21 November 1996 (%), established new policy priorities regarding the information society; (3)  Whereas the Commission, in its Communication of 19 July 1994, proposed an action plan for the informa- tion society; (4)  Whereas the Commission has proposed an action plan for the single market; (5)  Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution of 12 June 1997 ('), invited the European Union and the Member States to take action with regard to the develop- () O] C 54, 21.2.1998, p. 3 and O] C 23, 28.1.1999, p. 8. () O] C 214, 10.7.1998, p. 33. () O] C 251, 10.8.1998, p. 1. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 November 1998 (O] C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 68), Council Common Position of 21 December 1998 (O] C 55, 25.2.1999, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 13 April 1999 (O] C 219, 30.7.1999). Council Deci- sion of 21 June 1999. () O] C 181, 2.7.1994, p. 1. () O C 376, 12.12.1996, p. 1. (') O] C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 196. ment and application of new information and commun- ication technologies (ICT) in the next decade; (6)  Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, in Decision No 2717/95/EC (¥), adopted a series of guide- lines for the development of Euro-ISDN as a trans-Euro- pean network; (7)  Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, in Decision No 1336/97/EC (°), adopted a series of guide- lines for trans-European telecommunication networks; (8)  Whereas, in order to establish economic and monetary union and to implement Community policies and activi- ties, it is necessary for Member State administrations and the Community to access, exchange and process increasing amounts of information; (9)  Whereas, in order to exercise the powers conferred on them, it is necessary for Community institutions to access, exchange and process increasing amounts of information; (10)  Whereas the efficient, effective and secure exchange of processable information requires the availability of inte- grated data communication systems, hereinafter referred to as telematic networks; (11)  Whereas telematic networks linking the information systems of the Member State administrations and the Community across Europe are trans-European telecom- munication networks for administrations; (12)  Whereas the smooth functioning of the internal market and the elimination of obstacles to communication between public administrations and the private sector are important factors for the prosperity and competitive- ness of Community industry; (13)  Whereas use of telematic networks can contribute to the protection of the financial interests of the Community and to the fight against fraud; ) () OJ L 282, 24.11.1995, p. 16. 0J L 183, 11.7.1997, p. 12.