19/01/26 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 16 January, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the creation of a “European Critical Communication System”, designed to connect the communications networks of security and rescue authorities across the EU and the Schengen area by 2030. The Commission notes the current lack of “a European secure and resilient communication system that allows for real-time, cross-border and cross-agencies communication”, adding that many Member States are still using technologies “that only permits for voice communication”, which are unsuited to the need to share videos or sensitive data. The initiative therefore aims to remedy the fragmentation of national systems, which are prime targets “for malign actors, via cyber-threats, signal jamming or sabotage of physical infrastructure”, and to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers for the design of security infrastructures. The referral will remain open until 10 April. Public consultation: https://aeur.eu/f/kas (JM)