25/11/2005
Commission launches a Green Paper on “Critical Infrastructure Protection”

The European Commission has adopted a green paper on a Programme for critical infrastructure protection which outlines the options on what would enhance prevention, preparedness and response to the Union’s critical infrastructure protection. The Green Paper provides options on how the Commission may respond to the Council’s request to establish an “European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection” (EPCIP) and a “Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network” (CIWIN) and constitutes the second phase of a consultation process that began with a Commission Communication on critical Infrastructure Protection that was adopted in October 2004.

The Green Paper addresses such key issues as:

1. What should EPCIP protect against?

2. Key principles

3. The type of framework needed

4. Definition of EU Critical Infrastructure

5. National Critical Infrastructure

6. Role of Critical Infrastructure owners/operators

7. The Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN)

8. Funding

9. Evaluation and monitoring

The options presented by the EPCIP Green Paper are a combination of measures and are to be viewed as complementary to current national efforts. The Commission expect that by presenting this green paper, it will receive concrete feedback concerning the policy options outlined in this document. Depending on the outcome of the consultation process, an EPCIP policy package would be put forward during 2006.

Critical infrastructure can be damaged, destroyed or disrupted by deliberate acts of terrorism, natural disasters, negligence, accidents or computer hacking, criminal activity and malicious behaviour. To save the lives and property of people at risk in the EU from terrorism, natural disasters and accidents, any disruptions or manipulations of critical infrastructures should, to the extent possible, be brief, infrequent, manageable, geographically isolated and minimally detrimental to the welfare of the Member States, their citizens and the European Union.

The recent terrorist attacks in Madrid and London have highlighted the risk of terrorist attacks against European infrastructure. The EU’s response must therefore be swift, coordinated and efficient.

The damage or loss of a piece of infrastructure in one State may have negative effects on several others and on the European economy as a whole. This is becoming increasingly likely as new technologies (e.g. the Internet) and market liberalisation (e.g. in electricity and gas supply) mean that much infrastructure is part of a larger network. In such a situation protection measures are only as strong as their weakest link. This means that a common level of protection may be necessary. A common EU level framework for the protection of critical infrastructure in Europe could be put in place in order to make sure that each Member State is providing adequate and equal levels of protection concerning their critical infrastructure and that the rules of competition within the internal market are not distorted.

The Commission has organized seminars and invited the submission of ideas and comments by Member States. The submissions have formed the basis for further critical infrastructure protection development. Both Member States and industry associations have participated in the seminars. As a result the Commission has put forward a green paper on the subject.

The objective of the green paper is to receive feedback concerning EPCIP policy options by involving a broad number of stakeholders. The effective protection of critical infrastructure requires communication, coordination, and cooperation nationally and at EU level among all interested parties - the owners and operators of infrastructure, regulators, professional bodies and industry associations in cooperation with all levels of government, and the public.