Davos: Commissioner and VP Kroes; speech on the forthcoming Cybersecurity Strategy for the EU -mentions ENISA

Commissioner Kroes underlined e.g. that “cybersecurity is a matter that cannot be left to the technical people. It is a matter for board levels. But we also need to transform the risk story into a growth story.  The big opportunities of the digital economy will not be realised if people are worried about security and do not trust networks and systems.”

The Cybersecurity Strategy for the EU is planned to be presented soon and will focus on the need to improve the overall resilience of network and information systems, including by stimulating the competitiveness of the ICT industry, as well as user demand for security functionalities in ICT products and services. To strengthen cyber resilience and network and information security, the Strategy will be accompanied by a proposal for a Directive on Network and Information Security (NIS) across the EU, to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market.

In the speech, Commissioner Kroes details, among other things;

“The proposal requires the Member States to be appropriately equipped. The Member States' NIS competent authorities would also be required to cooperate with each other at EU level. The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) is to support this process by providing its technical expertise and advice.” and

“The Commission will also propose to extend the obligations to adopt NIS risk management measures and to report significant incidents to national authorities, to new sectors which are vital for our economy and society (energy, transport, banking, healthcare, key Internet companies).”

Finally, Commissioner Kroes concludes that “cybersecurity is too important to be left to the goodwill of companies.”

For full speech.