January 23, 2017

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to seek views on the past performance of ENISA and on a possible overhaul of its mandate in view of new challenges the EU faces in the cyber security field. The consultation is open until 12 April 2017.

Since its creation in 2004, ENISA has been a reference for cyber security expertise in Europe, helping the European Institutions, the Member States and the business community to address, respond to and, most crucially, prevent network and information security problems.

The 2013 ENISA Regulation requires the Commission to conduct an evaluation of the agency by June 2018 and to assess the possible need to modify its mandate which will come to an end in 2020. In view of the rapid evolution of the EU cyber security and digital privacy landscape, both on the threat and policy side, the Commission has brought forward the ENISA evaluation and will review the ENISA Regulation as part of its 2017 Work Programme.

The Commission says that the consultation kicks off the review of ENISA. It will start with an assessment of the Agency’s past contribution to the security of network and information systems in the EU and will then look at the needs and the gaps still perceived by the cyber security community and to which the EU should provide an adequate response.

Commissioner Andrus Ansip said: “Network security is essential for the functioning of the Digital Single Market in Europe. Last year’s achievements in cybersecurity are all important steps forward, but there is more work to do. The ENISA review will help us address better the main security concerns of the digital community in a time when global cyber-attacks are increasing in volume, and becoming more sophisticated. Cooperation is key for successful responses to these new security challenges. As part of the wider review of the Digital Single Market strategy, we are now looking at further actions to strengthen cybersecurity in the EU”. For further information, click here.