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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON BORDER MANAGEMENT
Europe is the world’s most important tourist destination and the primary worldwide exporter of goods and second biggest importer. Indeed, the EU's 27 Member States account for 19% of all the world’s imports and exports, and every year around 300 million citizens cross the EU‘s external border. These figures account for the relevance that free border crossing assumes in the EU. Yet, as Europe’s wealth and living standard draws on the legitimate free movement of people and goods, and regional cooperation, the free movement risks being exploited for the carrying out of illegitimate, illegal, and potentially extremely harmful activities.
Therefore, securing the EU’s external borders is not an option, but a necessity. This however increasingly relies upon the exchange of information (both for checks and surveillance), and coordination and interoperability between national (ICT) systems and networks, possibly leveraging on common information system architectures and procedures.
In order to guarantee and improve the security of border management and surveillance in Europe, while facilitating the legitimate border crossing of people and goods, several shortcomings have to be addressed and an integrated management of the EU Borders be developed. Therefore, the EC is recommended to set up a public-private “EU Border Checks Task Force” to examine ways and means to develop a harmonised approach to EU border checks and prepare the introduction of a “one-stop integrated border control concept.” Supported by an EU funded Programme and leveraging on the suggestions of this task force, an Integrated Management system for regulated Borders should be designed, developed and implemented. This would involve the design and development of EU Reference Solutions and Building Blocks for an EU architecture for Border checks. The EU would to that end need to enhance the interoperability and the standardisation of border management tools and processes in order to foster the efficiency of the information sharing process between MS. This would be a fundamental step towards achieving the envisaged one-stop entry/exit system and the registered traveller programme, and towards supporting the implementation at national level of the roll-out of the EU visa policy and secure information exchange tools with the already adopted databases and EU systems (VIS and SIS II).
To make this feasible, EOS White Paper on Border Management gives detailed suggestions on this topic, ranging from – amongst others - the proposition of architectures and solutions capable of removing unnecessary barriers to mobility, over the promotion of greater harmonisation and cooperation between Member States, to the creation of a series of pilot projects to prove the feasibility and viability of border management solutions, and the definition of interoperability standards and a prioritised region-by-region implementation plan.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON BORDER SURVEILLANCE
Yet, when talking about Border Control, special focus has to be given also to the surveillance of the EU’s blue border, i.e. its sea borders: Europe has a 90.000 km coastline along two oceans and four seas, constituting over two thirds of the EU’s external borders. 90% of the EU´s external trade and over 40% of its internal trade is transported by sea. To be equipped for the management of maritime security, the environment, safety and economic activities that take place on the sea, the EU needs to create a public-private “EU Advisory Forum” to examine ways and means to develop a harmonised approach to EU maritime surveillance. It should further strengthen the global governance of EU Maritime Management issues, improve the coordination of existing EU initiatives, and ensure the possibility of a secure and reliable storage, exchange and share of data by fostering coordinated activities to develop a common architecture, technical standards and EU Reference Solutions with increased interoperability. The transforming potential of European Border Funds for materialising an EU Integrated Maritime Management has to be optimised, and the EU is well advised to develop an EU “Sea4All” Programme for an Integrated Management of the European Maritime Area. Such Programme should federate, structure and harmonise all the current national, multilateral and European initiatives for an Integrated Management of the European Maritime Area.
EOS White Paper on Border Surveillance lists concrete elements necessary for materializing this recommendation, such as: strengthening the coordination of EU Security RT&D programmes, Pilot Projects and the deployment activities undertaken by MS, EU institutions and private stakeholders; enhancing dialogue and cooperation (within a sector and across sectors) between public administrations managing maritime issues; developing minimum common technical requirements and interfaces for interoperability, as well as uniform technology standards; developing and validating common and interoperable “EU Reference Solutions” in the framework of a harmonised “Maritime Surveillance Architecture”.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON CIVIL PROTECTION
The European Union regularly suffers from natural (i.e. earthquakes, forest fires, storms, floods, drought, landslides, effects of climate change, pandemics etc.) and man-made disasters (chemical spills, marine pollution, radiation leaks, terrorist attacks, outbreak of animal diseases, transport accidents or nuclear emergencies), the social and economical consequences of which may adversely affect its growth and competitiveness. Not only do these disasters occur, but there is evidence of a growing vulnerability of Europe due to the worsening conditions of climate change, the growing of urban density, and the increased probability of a CBRN accident, a pandemic or a similar threat that has a wide impact on the EU citizens’ health. Legacy situations where many purchasing authorities coexist with limited coordination have to be faced, while the development and implementation of security policies in accordance with the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity, proportionality and national sovereignty should be helped. Also, the “European model” in the area of European Home Affairs characterized by a delicate balance between mobility, security and privacy needs to be preserved.
To face these challenges, the EU is strongly advised to improve EU global governance to achieve a stronger coordination between local/national and EU activities in order to enhance the European Civil Protection Policy. The deployment of such policy should be facilitated by the creation of a pan-European Advisory Forum for Crisis Management and Civil Protection. To enhance regional cooperation for sharing best practices, interoperability of procedures with increased solidarity improved training and simulation, the EU should support cooperation between MS and first responder organisations. First responders and industry are called to develop cost-effective technologies for the prevention, early detection and response to CBRNE threats, and the EC is further advised to develop a common EU Risk Assessment methodology for increased interoperability of Civil Protection operational techniques, procedures and systems. It should also create an EU Programme on Civil Protection to improve prevention, preparedness, response and remediation from natural and manmade disasters and crisis situations, while supporting the development and implementation of common / similar procedures and interoperable resources across MS (emergency communications, first responders’ tools). Finally, EU Civil Protection stakeholders should support the development of societal issues, i.e. the involvement of civil society in preventing and responding to crises, the adequate involvement of media, and enhanced medical support for victims and first responders.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY
The aviation sector moves more than 2.2 billion passenger annually, and creates 32 million jobs worldwide. The importance of the sector is outlined by the fact that Aviation´s global economic impact is estimated at US $ 3. 577 Bn (2007), equivalent to 7.5% of the world’s GDP. The sector is highly regulated by several valuable EU air transport instruments and programmes already established or at the stage of policy development. Yet, relevant challenges are still to be addressed to better face the opportunities and risks posed by globalization, citizen’s mobility and evolving security threats.
Continuously improved detection technology capabilities providing for higher security and safety levels of identity and luggage control are required in today’s rapidly changing risk and threat environment (standoff screening of passengers, detection / identification of dangerous liquids, air cargo screening, etc.), as well as improved versatility and cost effectiveness of checked baggage machines, as operators face increasing demands to speed up screening processes: more people and goods throughput with high security levels. Moreover, European airlines and airports are today concerned about the high costs incurred by the ever increasing amount of security measures they have to comply with, and operators claim that EU legislation on security (and responsibility) is unbalanced with regard to other transport modes. Existing security procedures are considered a major cause of delay within the airports, and the harmonization of the EU Member States’ implementation of existing EC procedures has not been fully achieved, neither has the mutual recognition between US and EU security policies and regulations.
To remedy this situation, the EU necessitates to develop a European Air Transportation Security Programme to consistently answer across all EU Member States to operational, technological and societal issues through improved and reliable architectures, procedures and technologies that allow for a high but secure throughput of passengers and goods. Such programme has to foster the development of common methodologies and capabilities for Air Transportation Security, including risk and threat assessment and common criteria for the validation of air transport security solutions, services and procedures, harmonization of security technology standards and interfaces, equipment interoperability and compatibility of taken measures. As well, the EU security governance has to be strengthened through stronger institutional coordination and sound planning, coordinated at EU level. In order to make the deployment of viable and socially/economically acceptable security solutions and services possible, the EU would also need to provide for adequate funding and a proper regulatory framework, while reinforcing the awareness, effectiveness, coherence, openness and participation of all relevant stakeholders in the elaboration of such a framework.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY
The local failure of a local energy installation can jeopardize Europe’s entire energy grid. To name just some shortcomings, the need for protecting the energy infrastructure (not only the “security of supply”) is unfortunately not recognized and supported at National and EU level. Insufficient practical and financial guidance is provided to European Critical Infrastructure Energy Operators (ECIEOs) on how to protect Europe’s energy infrastructures. The levels of implementation and of investment in security measures, the methodologies, techniques and standards differ conspicuously across countries and operators. But these shortcomings can be addressed. Therefore, the EU needs to develops an overarching EU policy for the protection and resilience of energy infrastructures unambiguously linked to the EU security (of supply) policy and considerate of the existing cross-border dependencies of local infrastructures. The development of a consistent EU-wide approach should be supported by an EU Infrastructure Protection & Resilience Energy Proramme so as to promote a sufficient and across border equal level of protection, thus enhancing the resilience of the entire EU energy network, whereas the financial and operational obstacles that prevent operators from implementing security measures should be addressed by the EU through the setting of right incentives, an adequate liability model and defining an acceptable - risk based - liability model.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON SURFACE TRANSPORT SECURITY
Mass surface transportation is an economically and socially vital part of Europe’s infrastructure. Networks are growing in number and extent as cities grow, and this trend will continue as Europe’s urban population continues to grow as well. Networks of buses, trains, light rail and metros are increasingly physically integrated with each other, with other transport modes such as main lines rail and air travel, and with other activities such as shopping and sporting events. As such mass surface transportation has proven to be an attractive target for general criminality and terrorist attacks. Nevertheless, it still is much less heavily protected and regulated than other forms of transportation, such as air travel. While recognising the difficulties and complexities to increase this transport mode’s security and resilience, and despite public reluctance to any security measure that might inhibit their free movement, more can and should be done to protect this critical infrastructure. Europe cannot afford to ignore the security of these vital surface transportation networks. In light of Europe’s citizens’ reliability on these transportation systems, the EU should develop an EU policy for the protection and resilience of mass transport infrastructures, supported by an EU Platform, inclusive of users, operators and suppliers, to define and develop a common (across countries) framework for security and resilience of mass transportation infrastructure and protection of passengers. It should also assist in the acceptance of a common risk management methodology across EU countries, and develop adequate standards and procedures for the harmonised implementation of solutions and services that are consistent with the defined (across countries) framework. Finally, the implementation of security solutions and services should be supported by embedding them in the conception of new infrastructure according to a “secure-by-design” approach, while taking efficiency, business and societal constraints into account.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
International and cross-border trade is an indispensable feature of today’s world, and has become critical to the wellbeing of our society and economy, as without trade our lives would be severely restricted.
All this trade relies upon the so-called supply chain – the continuous linking of activities in the systematic movement of goods from the point of origin to the final destination. As international trade has grown steadily, so has the supply chain: at least 4,7 million companies in Europe are currently involved in the supply chain and the resulting value of goods transported in containers amounted to 114 billion tkm in 2005. Unfortunately, current supply chain security initiatives are insufficient if we are to deal with the complex issues that the risk of terrorism and organized crime pose. Common and sufficiently harmonised security requirements, as well as common architectures for the integration of solutions and services in a ’one stop system’ are missing. Information are insufficiently shared, and no coordinated approach at EU level covering all modes of transport exists yet, while a satisfying implementation and enforcement of supply chain security measures is lacking alltogether.
In order to find a balance between the indispensable imposition of security requirements and the necessity of guaranteeing a facilitated flow of goods, the EU is recommended to create a European Public-Private Platform for Supply Chain Security that, in cooperation with the private sector, proposes a specific and comprehensive policy targeted at all modes of transports. Such policy should aim at supporting increased international cooperation, raising the awareness of Supply Chain Security Measures and developing an incentives structure that places appropriate responsibility for the enhancement of security in the supply chain with those stakeholders who will gain the most benefit, while facilitating trade schemes. The EU should further develop common requirements for equipment, testing, interoperability and services, . Mutual recognition efforts with other supply chain security programmes from outside the EU should be supported by the EU. Finally, it is crucial for the EU to enhance Research and Development (R&D) efforts by creating an EU Supply Chain Security Programme considerate of the human element in the supply chain. R&D should then be aimed at the definition and implementation of a common architecture for the integration of solutions and services in a ‘one stop system’, and support the development and implementation of supply chain security measures.
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EOS' WHITE PAPER ON ICT & NETWORK SECURITY
Over the last two decades, the world’s landscape changed considerably, relying increasingly on ICT systems for the availability and exchange of information in all sectors to fuel economic growth and improved competitiveness. Whether we speak of ICT systems as applications, telecommunications or integrated system solutions, they have become key components of many Critical Infrastructures, and, as such, their disruption, malfunction or compromise can seriously impact our societal and individual well-being. Unfortunately, as shown by past incidents, security is not always implemented as a pervasive feature in these critical systems, even though what is at stake is a feature recognised by all actors as being crucial. For this reason, the EU is strongly recommended to inform stakeholders on the issues at stake by means of a public-private dialogue on ICT security, not only with the telecom operators, but also with the energy, transport and finance sector, system providers and security professionals. The EU should engage in raising the awareness of possible solutions and exchange best practices. This engagement should start with establishing a baseline of the existing processes and organisations already developed and operating within the cyber security arena in order to exploit best practices. Any EU proposal should seamlessly fit in with these existing initiatives. Also a common framework at European and preferably international level needs to be defined to secure Europe’s new and legacy information systems on the basis of a Secure-by-Design-Based-System Approach. Furthermore, the EU needs to ensure an equal level of investment in security by providing financial guidance and support to operators, thus avoiding market distortions. Eventually a federated EU Cyber Security Programme should support the development of threats and risks assessment methodologies, feasibility studies, but also pilot actions and the integration of security solutions in Critical Information Infrastructures.
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