Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The EU Council has adopted a Blueprint to coordinate a response to critical infrastructure disturbances with cross-border relevance. It aims to improve information sharing, public communication, and response strategies among member states.
The EU Council adopted a proposal on a Blueprint to coordinate a response at the EU level to disturbances to critical infrastructure with effective cross-border relevance. The recommendation sets in place an EU Critical Infrastructure Blueprint. The purpose of the Blueprint is: to facilitate shared situational awareness of the origin and effects of an incident, to support the coordination of public communications and to maintain an effective response.
How Will the New EU Blueprint Address Infrastructure Disruptions?
The Blueprint suggests several actions such as information sharing, coordination with other EU situation and emergency mechanisms, discussions on public communication systems, the preparation of incident reports and technical support delivered by other member states or relevant EU institutions to the affected member states.
Especially, when the member states impacted by a critical infrastructure incident with considerable cross-border relevance start this Blueprint, they are recommended to communicate with the rotating presidency of the EU Council and the European Commission relevant information on that incident.
How Will the EU Manage Cross-Border Infrastructure Incidents?
According to the recommendation, a critical infrastructure incident with significant cross-border relevance takes place when a happening involving critical infrastructure seriously disrupts the provision of essential services, as evaluated by six or more affected member states. It has a significant disruptive impact on the provision of essential services by a crucial entity of particular European significance. It greatly disrupts the provision of essential services to or in two or more member nations and requires, in accord with the affected countries, a response at the EU level
What Steps Will the EU Take for Infrastructure Incident Response?
As of 18 October 2024, the resilience of critical entities (CER) directive will spread throughout the EU. It seeks to reduce the vulnerabilities and support the resilience of critical entities. Critical entities are commodities providing essential services in sectors such as transportation, energy and health that are essential for the maintenance of vital societal functions, economic movements, public health and safety, and the environment.
The declaration will oblige member states to set in place a national strategy to improve the resilience of critical entities, carry out risk reviews and identify those critical entities that deliver essential services. Critical entities will need to determine the relevant risks that may significantly disrupt the provision of essential services, take reasonable measures to ensure their resilience and inform the competent authorities of any disruptive incidents.
In the aftermath of the Nord Stream pipeline episode, and complementing the CER directive, the Council assumed a recommendation in December 2022 on a Union-wide coordinated strategy to strengthen the resilience of essential infrastructure, which invited the European Commission to table a draft for a blueprint to blend an EU-level response to disorders of critical infrastructure with significant cross-border relevance.
