The Challenges for European Critical Infrastructure Protection

Abstract: Critical Infrastructure Protection has become a new field of European integration. This article identifies some of the challenges on this road towards a more shared approach. It argues that while the very concept of critical infrastructure is in flux, the whole approach is challenged by the more general approach that concentrates on resilience of societal functions instead of mere protection of infrastructures. The article also claims that it is not completely clear against what kind of threats the critical infrastructures should be protected and by whom. The article further points out the limits of the regulatory efforts of the governments or the EU in trying to protect infrastructures that are mostly owned and operated by private actors.