EUROPEAN NETWORK & INFORMATION SECURITY AGENCY

A new european agency that will have as its base the city of Heraclion in the island of Crete.

The European Network and Information Security Agency, Enisa, is a new agency of the European Union which formally came into being on 14 March 2004.

The Agency's work is essential to achieve a high and effective level of network and information security within the Community. It will also seek to develop a culture of network and information security for the benefit of citizens, consumers, business and public sector organisations in the European Union. This will also contribute to the smooth functioning of the Internal Market.

As its in-house expertise grows, Enisa shall help the Commission, the Member States and, consequently, the business community to address, respond and especially to prevent network and information security problems

The Agency shall also assist the Commission in the technical preparatory work for updating and developing Community legislation in the field of network and information security.

What are the activities of the Agency?

The prime purpose of the Agency is to enhance the capability of the Community, the Member States and, as consequence, the business community to prevent, address and respond to network and information security problems.

To this end, Enisa’s activities will focus on:

*Advising and assisting the Commission and the Member States on information security and in their dialogue with industry to address security-related problems in hardware and software products.
* Collecting and analysing data on security incidents in Europe and emerging risks;
* Promoting risk assessment and risk management methods to enhance our capability to deal with information security threats.
*Awareness-raising and co-operation between different actors in the information security field, notably by developing public / private partnerships with industry in this field.

Where will Enisa be located?

On 13 December 2003, the representatives of the EU Member States meeting at Head of State or Government level have decided by common accord that the European Network and Information Security Agency shall have its seat in Heraklion, Greece.

Brussels, 22 April 2005
ENISA’s Seat Agreement signed in Heraklion

ENISA Seat Agreement was signed today in Heraklion, Crete, by ENISA’s
Executive Director, Mr Andrea Pirotti, and Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications, Mr Anastasios Nerantzis, in the presence of the Greek
Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis. High level representatives of the Greek
Government and Parliament attended the event as well as representatives
from the Foundation for Research and Technology, FORTH, and from the
ENISA Management Board.
The Seat Agreement shall enter into force provisionally upon signature and
definitively after completion of Greek constitutional procedures. It lays down
provisions concerning the Agency premises and infrastructure in Heraklion,
implementing the Conclusions of the Representatives of the Member States of 13th December 2003
The Seat Agreement sets out the institutional presence of the Agency in Greece by giving it legal personality and specific immunities and privileges. The agreement, however, also sets out key issues for ENISA staff. The Greek government will e.g. found a European school for the children of the staff. This school will be the first European school in Greece and it will provide nursery and primary level classes. Mr Pirotti, ENISA’s Executive Director acknowledged the signing of this Agreement as a crucial moment for ENISA. “The rapid move to Heraklion during the summer of 2005 will be a speed record in the history of EU Agencies. ENISA has made huge efforts to reach this goal, but it would never have been possible without the
constant support and cooperation of the Greek Government and the
representatives of the FORTH institute.”

Ο ENISA ιδρύθηκε το 2003 με στόχο τον συντονισμό των ευρωπαϊκών προσπαθειών για την αποτελεσματικότερη πρόληψη και αντιμετώπιση των προβλημάτων ασφαλείας δικτύων και πληροφοριών.