Commission seeks to protect vital infrastructure

The European Commission will next week (12 December) propose identifying and protecting specific energy, transport, water and telecommunications sites in Europe vital to the functioning of the EU.

The proposal, by Franco Frattini, the justice, freedom and security commissioner, will target infrastructure of cross-border importance which, if disrupted or destroyed by a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, could have serious implications for member states.

National governments or the operators of important power plants, airports, hospitals, banks or water reservoirs currently decide what protection is needed to guard against threats but as this is done on a country-by-country or case-by-case basis the Commission will suggest that security be upgraded at weak points.

The Commission will also argue that it costs more to operate vital infrastructure across various member states because of the different security requirements.

If the proposal is accepted, the Commission, national administrations and operators would draw up a list of infrastructure of critical importance based on the impact on the public, the economy, the environment and politics if the infrastructure was to stop working. The list will be drawn from 11 sectors, including energy, water, telecommunications and transport. Ports will not be included as they already submit security plans.

The proposal would involve operators drawing up security plans which identify the assets of their infrastructure, what the risks are and how they can be secured. Operators will also have to appoint a security officer to relay information to and from member states and the EU.

The proposal follows a green paper and consultation since 2004 with member states and industry as to what role the EU might play in protecting critical infrastructure. One of the main concerns of industry was the cost of upgrading their security systems but the Commission maintains costs will be minimised for operators which already have security plans and personnel in place.

Next week’s proposal will not deal with how to protect critical infrastructure but this could be tackled by the Commission in the future.

The European Commission will next week (12 December) propose identifying and protecting specific energy, transport, water and telecommunications sites in Europe vital to the functioning of the EU.