Luxembourg, 12/06/2008 (Agence Europe) European telecommunications ministers paved the way, on Thursday, to extending the mandate for European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA). Ministers were unambiguous in their desire to prevent this agency, set up 2004, disappearing in 2009 as planned. They want its mandate extended for a further three years. Commissioner Viviane Reding took note of the member states' determination but said that she was still convinced that a single agency, pooling the functions currently exercised by ENISA and the European group of regulators, would be more efficient than two separate bodies. She does, however, respect the opinion of member states and will support the consensus obtained by the Parliament. The latter is expected to adopt an opinion in a first reading in June. The commissioner did, nevertheless, underline the vital and urgent importance of improving network security and services in Europe and emphasised that the Commission would continue to work in this sense. (I.L./transl.rh)