The applicability of a known quality model developed by European initiatives (authentication levels) has been reviewed. The mappings are illustrated using everyday life examples. The report explains encountered or potential issues with applying the model of authentication levels to electronic services and provides recommendations for further improvements of the model. Moreover this report provides a general overview of recent European efforts, with particular emphasis on the activities of European project STORK (Secure Identity Across Borders Linked) in relation to the authentication levels and their mappings. STORK aims to implement an EU wide eID interoperability platform that will allow citizens to establish new e-relations with other countries in the EU by using means of cross border eID identification and authentication. After the authors, it can be said that the technological barriers to establish cross-border interoperability of eGovernment solutions and services are on a good way to be overcome, provided that authentication level definitions will be further clarified to remove any ambiguity and room for interpretation. In the face of ever increasing computing power and new technological innovations, no security measure can be considered to be valid indefinitely. Therefore definitions and mappings need to be periodically re-evaluated in order to increase the mutual levels of trust. STORK project started the bases for the QAA levels, which has to be fine tuned with the consent of the Member States, for example by the ISA programme. Current cooperation between some Member States seems to provide sufficient grounds to begin providing basic electronic services across European borders. Markus Hartmann, Managing Director of HJP Consulting states: “The European Union is heading towards a common service market. Therefore citizens must be enabled to authenticate themselves online cross border without any barriers. We are proud that ENISA once again has used our expertise on designing large eID systems to promote this mission to European politicians and opinion leaders”. For further information, please review the report, which can be downloaded on the ENISA website: Report www.hjp-consulting.com Background / about STORK STORK is an ICT Policy Support Programme under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). It involves 17 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and Iceland (as an EEA member). The EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) aims to encourage the competitiveness of European enterprises. Part of CIP, the ICT Policy Support Programme, focuses on stimulating innovation and competitiveness through the wider uptake and optimal use of ICT by citizens, businesses and governments. The timing and objectives of STORK are ideal for producing high impact and contributing to the proposed objectives of the Lisbon Ministerial Declaration (2007), that is to say interoperability among Member States and reduction of administrative bureaucracy. In the i2010 eGovernment Action Plan, EU Member States recognized the importance of electronic identification management. By 2010, they aim to provide secure and convenient electronic systems for European citizens and businesses accessing public services in any country of the European Union. These should work at local, regional or national levels and comply with data protection regulations. https://www.eid-stork.eu/