EU member states must increase collaboration to fight cyber crime

The EU has outlined proposals to increase staffing and budget of Enisa

The EU has outlined plans to help member states fight cyber crime

The European Union (EU) has proposed new measures to tackle fibre crime, these measures will see sanctions increased and police co-operation intensified accross EU member states.

The measures were presented by commissioners Cecilia Malmström and Neelie Kroes and include a new mandate that will allow the EU to engage member states and the private sector in joint activities across Europe. These activities will include cyber security exercises, public private partnerships for network resilience, economic analyses and risk assessment and awareness campaigns.

Malmström and Neelie Kroes also said that they want ENISA (European Network and Information Security Agency), to be strengthened and modernised.

One of the proposals is to increase its budget and staffing.

"With the proliferation of malicious software, it is possible to take control over a large number of computers then steal credit card numbers, find sensitive information or launch large-scale attacks," said Malmström.

"It is time for us to step up our efforts against cyber crime, also often used by organised crime. The proposals we are putting forward today are one important step, as we criminalise the creation and selling of malicious software and improve European police cooperation," she added.

Neelie Kroes, Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, agreed that greater collaboration will help reduce the threat.

"Cyber threats know no borders," she began. "Our EU institutions and governments must work more closely together, to help us understand the nature and scale of the new cyber-threats.

"We need ENISA's advice and support to help design efficient response mechanisms to protect our citizens and businesses online," she added.

Dr. Udo Helmbrecht, executive director, ENISA, said: "Securing Europe’s IT infrastructure is vital to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Internal Market and to create a culture of Network and Information Security in Europe."