The present document defines the so-called CAdES baseline profile which corresponds to the minimum basic requirements in the context of the EU Services Directive@ and provides the same basic features with minimal number of options. This is required because there is a clear need to specify the Baseline Profile for AdES signatures used in electronic documents issued by competent authorities to be interchanged across borders in the context of the EU Services Directive. The present document defines a profile that specifies element and attribute requirements for a CAdES signature. Clause 2 in the present document contains references to the relevant documents and standards. Clause 3 includes definitions of relevant terms and abbreviations used in the present document. Clause 4 provides details on the way that the requirements on both signer and verifier will be presented throughout the present document. Clause 5 specifies the requirements for the short-term electronic signatures@ that is@ requirements for CAdES-BES and CAdES-EPES forms.