ENISA: a new mandate to face the challenges of network and information security 

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The new regulation on a new seven-year mandate to strengthen and modernise the European Network and the Information Security Agency (ENISA) was approved by the Parliament on Tuesday.

The new seven-year mandate proposed by MEPs to coincide with the EU's long-term budget for 2014-2020, will take effect on 13 September 2013. It aims to strengthen the agency to enable it to cope with network and information security challenges. Consequently, an increase in financial and human resources allocated would be made to correspond to its enhanced role and tasks.


Computer Emergency and Response Teams


The new regulation gives the agency a clear mandate to support the establishment and functioning of a full-scale European Union Computer Emergency Response Team (EU CERT) to counter cyber-attacks at EU level, as requested by Parliament's Industry Committee.


National bodies and EU institutions and agencies could request expertise and advice from ENISA in the event of a security breach or loss of integrity with a significant impact on the operation of networks and services, says the text.


Athens branch office


ENISA has its seat in Heraklion (Crete). A new "branch office" will be set up in Athens with operational staff, in order to improve the efficiency of its networking activities. Administrative staff should be based in Heraklion, underlines the compromise.


Better governance


An executive board will be established to enable the management board to focus on issues of strategic importance and thus improve ENISA's effectiveness. The Executive Director will be appointed after obtaining the approval of the European Parliament.


The new regulation was adopted with 626 votes in favour, 45 against and 16 abstentions.



Procedure: co-decision, first reading



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