Green Paper on a European programme for critical infrastructure protection

Critical infrastructure (CI) can be damaged, destroyed or disrupted by deliberate acts of
terrorism, natural disasters, negligence, accidents or computer hacking, criminal activity and
malicious behaviour. To save the lives and property of people at risk in the EU from
terrorism, natural disasters and accidents, any disruptions or manipulations of CI should, to
the extent possible, be brief, infrequent, manageable, geographically isolated and minimally
detrimental to the welfare of the Member States (MS), their citizens and the European Union.
The recent terrorist attacks in Madrid and London have highlighted the risk of terrorist attacks against European infrastructure. The EU’s response must be swift, coordinated and efficient.

The European Council of June 2004 asked the Commission to prepare an overall strategy to protect critical infrastructure. In response, the Commission adopted on 20 October 2004 a Communication “Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Fight Against Terrorism” putting forward clear suggestions on what would enhance European prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks involving critical infrastructures.

The main objective of the green paper is to receive feedback concerning possible EPCIP
policy options by involving a broad number of stakeholders. The effective protection of
critical infrastructure requires communication, coordination, and cooperation nationally and at EU level among all interested parties - the owners and operators of infrastructure, regulators, professional bodies and industry associations in cooperation with all levels of government, and the public.

EUR-Lex: COM(2005)576: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2005:576:FIN

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