EU Agency targets cyber threat

Ministers representing the European Union (EU) Member States have come up with a plan for a dedicated EU Network and Information Security Agency – although they have shied away from granting the body significant powers.

Instead, the agency would have a mainly advisory role, assuming that ministers don't change their minds following probable pressure from the European Parliament.

As the situation stands at present, the organisation will advise the European Commission and EU Member States on how to combat the threat of cyber and related crime, and will consult with national regulatory authorities to help them meet requirements in European legislation on IT and telecomms security.

All this is a far cry from the beefed-up body envisaged by the Commission, which would have commanded powers to promote the standardisation of information security technologies and the use of e-commerce certification schemes. The organisation would also have had the authority to push national law enforcement and regulatory authorities to co-ordinate their fight against cybercrime.

While eroding its legal muscle, ministers also ruled on the make-up of the new Agency's management board. They want it to include a representative from each Member State, three Commission-appointed Members as well as non-voting representatives from industry, consumer groups and academia.

Apparently, the British and German Governments abstained on the vote, held at the EU's Council of Ministers for Telecomms. Council officials have now been told to work closely with the European Parliament to try and reach a quick final agreement over the shape of the Network and Information Security Agency.

Interpol's secretary general Ronald K Noble has warned crime networks pedalling pirated CDs and DVDs (as well as counterfeit clothing, cigarettes and computer software) that they're proven to be financing terror groups including the Hezbollah, Chechen separatists, Kosovan extremists and Northern Irish paramilitary organisations, not to mention Al-Qaeda.

In documents recently sent to the US Congress, Noble called for increased police co-operation with the security services, in particular focusing on national anti-counterfeiting police contact points. "Due to the growing evidence that terrorist groups sometimes fund their activities using the proceeds of high tech crime, there are important implications for both public safety and security," said Noble.

On all levels, counterfeiting and piracy seems to be an increasing threat across the globe, with the European Commission estimating that it now accounts for between 5-7% of all international trade – causing two billion Euros' worth of damage to the European economy.

European Union ministers recently extended regulations outlawing counterfeiting in all Member States to new intellectual property rights, such as fraudulent designations of origin.