Brussels, 23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Compliance with minimum-security requirements for national online transaction registers is good but not enough to counter action by cyber criminals on the European carbon trading market. In response to the most recent attack launched by internet pirates a month ago (which led to the theft of emissions trading quotas and the suspension of 27 national registries), the Commission submitted a number of simple measures to member states on Wednesday 23 February. These will be easy to implement without delay. The Commission also intends to soon propose an amendment to the regulation on the EU registry (CISL), in an effort to strengthen the legal foundations of these measures, which will be adopted to protect the emissions trading market and preserve the reputation of the Emissions Trading Scheme in the EU (ETS).
Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, explained in a press release that, “The Commission has identified a range of actions that member states can already take in the short term to further improve security, for example, by regularly reviewing security plans, by reinforcing registry account policies and identity checks, by training registry users etc. For the medium- and long-term, we reinforce efforts to identify solutions in cooperation both with member states and through a regular dialogue with stakeholders”.
Short-term action recommended on Wednesday to EU 27 representatives meeting at the climate change committee include: - regular reviews and updates of registry security plans: - a review and strengthening of policies concerning the opening of registry accounts, building on best practice, and a risk-based review of existing registry account holders; - facilitation of information exchange between member states regarding suspicious requests to open an account; - better training for registry users and better use of options in existing EU legislation to prevent VAT fraud.. (A.N./transl.fl)