Brussels, 06/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - At a public debate on Friday 3 December, the Telecommunications Council welcomed proposals to extend the mandate of the European Network for Information Security Agency (ENISA) and even strengthening and modernising its role. Ministers welcomed the two proposals from the European Commission, presented in September and October, and adopted a progress report. “Network surveillance and security is a matter of the highest importance. … In the coming months, we will have to increase our efforts ahead of negotiations with the European Parliament,” said Belgian Business Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes pressed ministers to reach agreement quickly on the proposals before the current ENISA mandate runs out in March 2012.
The Commission proposes in particular extending the role of the agency to allow it to provide the interface between cyber-security experts and public authorities responsible for combating cyber-crime, to rationalise its management structure and gradually to increase its financial and human resources. The progress report adopted by the Council on Friday indicates that the proposals now have to be looked at in closer detail in order to prepare a common position in the Council ahead of talks with the Parliament, especially with regard to ENISA's tasks, the length of its mandate, the role and structure of ENISA bodies and funding. The ITRE committee in the European Parliament will discuss the Commission proposals on 9 December. (I.L./transl.rt)