Brussels, 14/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Almost 900 representatives from governments of Member States of the European Union, industry and research in Europe will be taking part in the Security Research Conference - SRC'06, in Vienna on 20-21 February, co-organised by the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission. This conference will provide an opportunity for discussing challenges Europe has to meet in research and the new technology sectors in order to respond to new threats to the security of European citizens (terrorism, organised crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction etc). Also attending the conference will be the vice chancellor and Austrian minister of transport and innovation, Hubert Gorbach, European Commissioner for industry Günter Verheugen, UN Special Envoy to Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari, Union anti-terrorist coordinator Gijs de Vries and the chairman of the European Parliament's “Defence and Security” sub-committee Karl von Wogau, who will be opening the work on SRC'06 by illustrating “The Challenges for Europe” in the areas of civil security research. Director General of DG “Enterprise” at the European Commission Heinz Zourek, as well as the directors of Directorates General “External Relations” Lars Erik Lundin and “Justice, Freedom and Security” Jean-Louis de Brouwer will guide the debates in the second session of the SRC'06 on the theme of “Strengthening Security through European Policies”. During the course of the four parallel sessions, representatives from Member States, industry and the research sector will discuss the main aspects of civil security research.