Regulation 2013/526 - EU Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 165/41

Electronic communications, infrastructure and services are essential factors, both directly and indirectly, in economic and societal development. They play a vital role for society and have in themselves become ubiquitous utilities in the same way as electricity or water supplies, and also constitute vital factors in the delivery of electricity, water and other critical services. Communications networks function as social and innovation catalysts, multiplying the impact of technology and shaping consumer behaviours, business models, industries, as well as citizenship and political participation. Their disruption has the potential to cause considerable physical, social and economic damage, underlining the importance of measures to increase protection and resilience aimed at ensuring continuity of critical services. The security of electronic communications, infrastructure and services, in particular their integrity, availability and confidentiality, faces continuously expanding challenges which relate, inter alia, to the individual components of the communications infrastructure and the software controlling those components, the infrastructure overall and the services provided through that infrastructure. This is of increasing concern to society not least because of the possibility of problems due to system complexity, malfunctions, systemic failures, accidents, mistakes and attacks that may have consequences for the electronic and physical infrastructure which delivers services critical to the well-being of European citizens.

The threat landscape is continuously changing and security incidents can undermine the trust that users have in technology, networks and services, thereby affecting their ability to exploit the full potential of the internal market and widespread use of information and communications technologies (ICT).

Regular assessment of the state of network and information security in the Union, based on reliable Union data, as well as systematic forecast of future developments, challenges and threats, both at Union and global level, is therefore important for policy makers, industry and users.

By Decision 2004/97/EC, Euratom (3), adopted at the meeting of the European Council on 13 December 2003, the representatives of the Member States decided that the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), that was to be established on the basis of the proposal submitted by the Commission, would have its seat in a town in Greece to be determined by the Greek Government. Following that Decision, the Greek Government determined that ENISA should have its seat in Heraklion, Crete.

On 1 April 2005, a Headquarters Agreement (‘Seat Agreement’) was concluded between the Agency and the host Member State.

The Agency’s host Member State should ensure the best possible conditions for the smooth and efficient operation of the Agency. It is imperative for the proper and efficient performance of its tasks, for staff recruitment and retention and to enhance the...