Guaranteeing cybersecurity for the forthcoming elections in Europe
11.1.2017
Question for written answer P-000112-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Viviane Reding (PPE)
In view of recent cyber attacks in the context of the US presidential election, cybersecurity experts are concerned and warn against similar actions during the next elections due in Europe (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Luxembourg, etc.). Even though hacking attacks are not new, the motives behind them appear to have changed and now aim at destabilising our democracies.
In this context, my questions are:
- 1.Is the Commission planning an audit to assess the level of cybersecurity threats to the upcoming elections and the effectiveness of European and national instruments which could be used to prevent and/or respond to such attacks?
- 2.What specific measures and concrete actions are foreseen to prevent any external interference in the democratic process of Member States, and what is the role of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and the Europol Internet Referral Unit in this area?
- 3.Have cooperation mechanisms been put in place at EU level to facilitate the exchange of information, to help Member States strengthen their cyber-defence capabilities and to identify coordinated responses?