Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission welcomed EU Parliament and member states’ support for its cybersecurity directive proposed at the end of 2020.
The Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive) was the first EU-wide package aimed at improving cybersecurity, the Commission reminded in a statement on Friday.
It stressed that the NIS Directive “paved the way for a significant change in mind-set, institutional and regulatory approach to cybersecurity in many member states.”
The NIS Directive needs to be updated, the Commission noted, because digitalisation continues to pick up pace, as does the number of cyberattacks on the global level.
The new NIS 2 Directive is aimed at addressing issues that arise from increased digitalisation and covers medium-sized and large entities including providers of digital services, electronic communication, postal and courier services, manufacturing of key products and public administration, among other.
Broader scope of regulation
“The expansion of the scope covered by the new rules, by effectively obliging more entities and sectors to take cybersecurity risk management measures, will help increase the level of cybersecurity in Europe in the medium and longer term,” the EC pointed out.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, noted that the EC has been working on new cybersecurity rules and put in place the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act in the past months.
“Today, member states and the European Parliament have also secured an agreement on NIS 2,” she noted and added “this is another important breakthrough of our European digital strategy, this time to ensure that citizens and businesses are protected and trust essential services.”
Margaritis Schinas, European Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life, stressed the importance of improving cybersecurity as the digital transition moves forward.
“The current geopolitical context makes it even more urgent for the EU to ensure that its legal framework is fit for purpose,” he pointed out and concluded “the EU shows its clear determination to champion preparedness and resilience against cyber threats, which target our economies, our democracies and peace.”
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, stressed that the EU has to adapt its security to the changing digital landscape.
He concluded that the EC “will complement this approach with the upcoming Cyber Resilience Act that will ensure that digital products are also more secure whenever they are used.”