Brussels, 04/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 November European cyber security experts launched a pan-European level cyber-attack simulation exercise (member states, as well as Iceland, Switzerland and Norway). Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, said this exercise was to test Europe's preparedness against cyber threats and “is an important first step towards working together to combat potential online threats to essential infrastructure and ensuring citizens and businesses feel safe and secure online”.
The “Cyber EUROPE 2010”scenario will involve internet connections between European countries gradually being lost or significantly reduced and, at its worst, effectively all major cross-country connections in Europe being out of use. In the simulation, citizens, businesses and public institutions will have difficulties accessing critical online services (such as eGovernment). Each European country after the other will increasingly suffer from access problems and will have to co-operate to mount a joint response to the fictitious crisis. This cyber security exercise aims to enhance member states' understanding of how cyber incidents are handled and test communication links and procedures in case of a real large-scale cyber incident, explained the Commission. The exercise will test the appropriateness of contact points in the participating countries, the communication channels, the type of data exchanges over these channels and the understanding that member states have of the role and mandate of their counterparts in other member states. Jonathan Todd, the spokesperson for Commissioner Kroes, said that this very important exercise should provide a number of very useful lessons. He also pointed out that network security was a priority in the Digital Agenda.
The cyber security exercise has been organised by the EU's member states in coordination with the European Network Security Agency (ENISA), and with the support of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. On 30 September 2010, the Commission proposed to strengthen and modernise ENISA with a view to helping the EU, member states and private stakeholders to develop their capabilities and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to cyber-security challenges. The Commission also proposed a directive, which would allow the perpetrators of cyber attacks and the producers of related and malicious software to be prosecuted and face heavier criminal sanctions. (EUROPE10226). (I.L./transl.fl)