Liikanen outlines information security policy at Parliament Echelon debate
Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, has presented the Commission's plans to increase EU network and information security to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Mr Liikanen was speaking at a debate on the so-called Echelon affair - the discovery that a global system for intercepting communications was being operated by the United States, with the cooperation of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. MEPs and representatives from other EU institutions discussed what actions were being taken to protect the data and privacy of Europe's citizens. The Commissioner warned those present that: 'Full security will never be achievable. There will always be weak points, attacks, incidents and failures that will generate damage. Society as a whole, as well as individuals, has to learn how to manage the risks involved in networks and information systems.' Rather than going into any detail on the Echelon affair itself, Mr Liikanen outlined the measures that the Commission had taken, or would be proposing, to bolster data security. A number of actions come as a direct response to recommendations made by a Parliamentary committee that was created in the wake of the affair. Making a general point, the Commissioner said that data security in the EU would benefit from an increase in cooperation between Member States, and that this had been the underlying principle of the Commission's Communication on network and information security. Specifically, the document contains proposals on awareness raising actions, such as the benchmarking of policies in support of secure e-business, and improved mechanisms for the exchange of information. Mr Liikanen also highlighted the measures on security contained in the newly adopted eEurope 2005 action plan. He said that the plan would 'strengthen the exchange of information and good practice, establish a European centre of competence, create a culture of security, and establish a secure communication environment.' One of the Commissions key proposals is the creation of a cyber security unit, which would act as a centre of expertise on security issues and establish internationally recognised standards. Mr Liikanen warned, however, that in order to act efficiently and quickly, the unit would require sufficient human and financial resources, and would need to gain the trust of Europe's public and private sectors. Finally, the Commissioner reminded those present of the support for research into encryption technologies that will soon become available as part of the Sixth Framework Programme. Through initiatives such as these, Mr Liikanen said that he hoped 'to reinforce the focus, and the efforts, on network and information security as a vital dimension in preventing illegal interception or economical espionage, underpinning the smooth functioning of our economies and societies.'