Reference: IP/06/1752
European Commission presents package of new measures to improve protection of critical infrastructure in Europe

Brussels, Belgium – How can we fight terrorism more effectively and enhance protection for citizens? The Commission has adopted a Communication on a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection and a proposal for a Directive on the identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructure to improve the protection of critical infrastructure in the EU.

"The security and economy of the European Union as well as the well-being of our citizens depend on certain infrastructure and the services they provide. The disruption of such infrastructure could mean the loss of lives, the loss of property and a collapse of public confidence in the EU. The package we present 2006-12-12 aims at ensuring that any eventual disruptions or manipulations of critical infrastructure remain as brief, infrequent, manageable, geographically isolated and minimally detrimental as possible”, said Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security.

The European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection consists amongst others of:

• A Directive of the Council on the identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructure and the assessment of the need to improve their protection. The proposed Directive establishes a procedure for the identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructures (ECI), and a common approach to the assessment of the needs to improve the protection of such infrastructure;
• Measures designed to facilitate the implementation of EPCIP including an EPCIP Action Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN), the use of CIP expert groups at EU level, CIP information sharing processes and the identification and analysis of interdependencies;
• Support for Member States concerning National Critical Infrastructures (NCI) which could optionally be used by the Member States;
• Accompanying financial measures and in particular the proposed EU programme on "Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security Related Risks" for the period 2007-2013, which will provide funding opportunities for CIP related measures having a potential for EU transferability.

More information
Read MEMO/06/477 The European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP)
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/terrorism/protection/fsj_terrorism_protection_infrastruct_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/security/infrastructure/index_en.htm
To find out more about Vice President Frattini’s work please see his website http://www.ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/frattini/index_en.htm