Europe steps up its IT security

13.03.2014 12:01

Europe steps up its IT security

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Binding security standards for IT networks are on the way. The European Parliament has adopted its position on the future Network and Information Security Directive (NIS). "The EU must step up its efforts to fight attacks and espionage. This is also about the security of data on all of us. A joint EU approach is the right way forward", said European Parliament Rapporteur Andreas Schwab MEP.

"The recent hacker attacks on companies and governmental bodies have shown that Europe must act. Our personal data is at stake. Parliament and Council ought to start negotiations swiftly. We must find an agreement on the Directive right after the European elections. It is time to deliver and the European added value is obvious, for all citizens and for European business", said the EPP Group MEP.

Pilar del Castillo MEP, Rapporteur in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament, said: “Risks to cyber security do not respect the internal borders of the EU. The draft Directive adopted today provides Europe with a truly efficient tool by structuring an efficient and dynamic coordination across Europe of all the national computer emergency response teams which are the first respondents to a security breach. It also guarantees that all critical infrastructures in Europe, such as in the energy, transport or health sectors, have efficient computer emergency response teams that will be able to swiftly intervene when, and if, cyber security threats arise."

Note to editors

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 274 Members from 27 Member States.

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