http://boston.com/dailynews/155/technology/EU_Squabble_May_Sink_Planned_C:.shtml By Lisa Jucca Reuters 6/4/2003 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Plans for a European agency to tackle cybercrime such as computer viruses and terror attacks may be scuppered by bureaucracy because governments want to monitor it too tightly, EU officials said on Wednesday. The European Network and Information Security Agency, which would play a key advisory role to the 15 EU governments on how to combat Web-related threats, was expected to be up and running by the end of this year. However member states now say they want to directly appoint members of the management board, which would oversee the work of the agency. They are also seeking to axe a planned advisory panel meant to give voice to the industry, EU officials said. The Commission is fiercely opposing an overhaul of its planned structure and is threatening to withdraw the proposal. ''This debate is unnecessary. We are faced with cyber threats on a daily basis and we have no means to respond to them,'' a Commission spokesman said. The European Commission, the EU's executive body which proposed the agency, had wanted the new body to be a slim 30-man operation to rapidly react to virus attacks and other threats. Authorities worldwide have woken up to the dangers of serious network failures, such as those caused by computer worm ''SQL Slammer'' earlier this year. Potential terror strikes are also a source of concern after the September 11 attacks. Internet service providers say the agency would play a very necessary role were it not to be hamstrung by governments' intervention. ''A very significant role exists for the new network security agency,'' said Louisa Gosling, president of Europe's Internet services providers association EuroISPA. ''However, we are worried that unnecessary bureaucracy in the structure of the new agency could seriously impact on its effectiveness.'' The agency is expected to cost the EU around 24 million euros ($28.09 million) in five years. A further nine million euros will be added once 10 new EU members join in May 2004. Its other duties would include EU-wide collection of data on cyber attacks, security risk assessments and pan-EU guidelines. Individual member states already operate crisis units -- called Computer Emergency Response Teams -- against threats posed by Internet hackers and spreaders of computer viruses. But the system lacks central coordination. Member states want to continue to rely mainly on the CERTS and fear the agency may interfere with their functioning. The EU has harmonized legislation against cybercrime. Under the EU rules, hackers seeking unauthorized access to a computer system can face several years in jail. ($1-.8542 Euro) - ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org To unsubscribe email majordomoat_private with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY of the mail.
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