The European Network and Information Security Agency
(ENISA), a small body set up in 2004, was due to be closed down
next year. But rising cyber-crime and attacks such as one
suffered by EU member Estonia last year has triggered a
rethink.
The bloc's 27 telecoms industry ministers, meeting in
Luxembourg, agreed a three-year reprieve until 2012 to give
time to decide how to take Greek-based ENISA forward.
The European Parliament is set to formally endorse the move
next week.
ENISA's executive director, Andrea Pirotti, said network
security was crucial for the European economy, which
increasingly depends on a trouble-free Internet.
"The need for secure networks, systems and services will
certainly not suddenly disappear in 2012," Pirotti said in a
statement.
"Network and information security touches business and the
daily lives of citizens in Europe. It consequently needs
constant reinforcement to keep up with the evolving threats
landscape," Pirotti said.
With an annual budget of 8 million euros and fewer than 50
staff, ENISA had no remit or resources to deal with cyber
attacks like that experienced by Estonia last year, when the
Baltic state accused Russia of causing government websites to
crash.
(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Catherine Evans)
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