Cybersecurity Policy Report, European Negotiators Reach Pact to Bolster ENISA's Cyber Mandate, (Feb 4, 2013)
European negotiators have announced that they have reached an agreement on a new mandate for the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) that they say will enhance the agency's ability to support European cybersecurity in addition to extending its mandate by seven years.
The agreement was reached Jan. 28 in a meeting with representatives of the European Union Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission. The agreement is subject to final approval by the parliament's Committee of Permanent Representatives.
European Commission Vice President-Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes called the agreement a "timely development, particularly in light of the Cyber Security Strategy and legislative proposal on network and information, which will be adopted by the commission shortly." The commission is expected to act on those issues Feb. 7.
ENISA Executive Director Udo Helmbrecht said the agency "welcome[s] these positive signals and this increased focus on cybersecurity. We will follow the further final steps of the legislative process with keen interest."
"Assuming that this political agreement is adopted, and all goes as foreseen, ENISA will have a stable framework to support robust cybersecurity in Europe, to the benefit of citizens, businesses, and the European economy," he added.
News: Cybersecurity