EU information society security watchdog begins five-year term 

The EU has reinforced its co-operation on the security of commumnication transmissions with the launch of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) on 15 March. The decision to set up the agency was taken by interior Mnisters at their meeting of 19 February 2004. The agency has its seat in Greece and will initially be operational until end 2008.

ENISA has a very wide remit, covering all transmission systems, including radio, TV, satellite networks, switching or routing equipment. It has been given competence on all computers and electronic communication networks, as well as electronic data stored, processed, retrieved or transmitted by computers.

However, ENISA has been restricted to advisory functions and was stripped off the role initially assigend to it by the Commission as a standardisation body on security standards. It will only assist the Commission, the Member States and the business community in meeting the requirements of network and information security. It is also hoped that it will contribute to strengthening the EU's internal market by ensuring the interoperability of security functions in networks and information systems. Its pool of experts will monitor incidents and emerging risks in order to address information security problems and prevent them from happening in the future.

At the time of approval, civil liberties groups warned that "an EU institution in this area could promote security by obscurity to the advantage of a few players".