Toespraak commissaris Frattini over veiligheid (en)

SPEECH/07/515

Franco Frattini

European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security

"The changing nature of security threats requires a strong Public-Private Dialogue in Security Research and Innovation"

European Security Research and Innovation Forum (ESRIF) -

1 st meeting

Brussels, 11 September 2007

Six years ago today the attacks in New York shocked the entire world. They also changed forever our understanding of security. Since then security threats, especially those posed by terrorists, have remained constant. Only last week Danish, and then German authorities, stopped terrorist suspects just before an attack could be made. Terrorism is therefore a constant threat. It is also a long term one.

There is much long-term work we are carrying out at European level: from initiatives on radicalisation to bio-terrorism. However, we must ensure that our work is underpinned by the best security research we can have. This is vital for us.

We have already taken strong action: the Council and the European Parliament have significantly increased funding to meet this new security challenge.

Nearly one and a half billion euros is available for Security from the 7th EU Framework Programme on Research. This is to develop technologies and our ability to fight terrorism and crime, secure our infrastructure, border security and civil protection.

My own area of Justice Freedom and Security has also made much more money available. Over the next seven years, almost 750 million Euros will be spent on policies to improve our common security and support Member States' work.

This funding is crucial if we are to meet long term security challenge. We must face the changing nature of security threats. These threats use sophisticated technology and crosses traditional borders. That is why the law enforcement community must rely on technological tools which are even more performing than the ones used by criminals, and at the same time easy to use, interoperable and bought at an affordable price.

However, at present all the different parts do not always communicate. This must improve. We must have a shared and clear view of European security research needs and priorities;

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  We must better coordinate research at European, national and regional levels;

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  We must fully involve all stakeholders: Those responsible for providing security must be involved from the start so they can help shape workable policy;

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  We must ensure our policy is supported by strong evidence from research.

Public-private dialogue in security and technology is central. As you know, this morning the Commission adopted a Communication on the European Security Research and Innovation Forum. Next year we will take stock of the Forum's work. If each of us better uses security research in policy making, we can deliver more effective policies. And, ultimately, more and better security for all EU citizens.

Working with private industry has already brought real results. For example in combating terrorism. We work with the banking sector to identify those who finance terrorist acts. With the telecommunications sector we have agreed last year new measures to retain data on telephone calls and internet use.

The Commission's Preparatory Action on Security Research generated research which underpinned security policy. For example, projects on border security helped the Commission identify the technical standards that would improve border security and which require a better common use of technologies. In the Schengen area we have removed the necessity to stop at border controls. This will be expanded in the near future to the new Member States. This enhanced freedom of movement goes hand in hand with better securing the EU's common external borders.

The External Borders Fund provides money to improve surveillance systems; gather relevant information around the external border and provide state of the art technology to strengthen controls of people on entry and exit. In order to reduce illegal immigration, we are working on a maritime surveillance system to be deployed in the Mediterranean but also in the Black Sea.

Security Research projects also support biometrics and look ahead to analyse what is needed for the long term use of fingerprints for future visas, passports and travel documents.

I experienced myself, at London's Heathrow and at Amsterdam's Schiphol airports, a new hi-tech identity system. I had my eye examined, instead of my passport. This technology uses iris recognition technology and aims to speed up borders controls.

Public/private dialogue also has a role in protecting critical infrastructures: our airports, railway stations, roads, power stations, dams and bridges. These infrastructures are not all owned by governments - On the contrary the majority are owned by private parties. We can not succeed without working in partnership with the owners of these infrastructures.

There is also on-going public private work on the security of explosives and detonators. A public private expert task force has provided advice on how we can increase the security of explosives manufactured legitimately. And also how to prevent terrorists from using home made explosives for their attacks.

The Madrid bombings were carried out using commercially available explosives. Research will support the Commission's forthcoming Action plan [ 6 th November] for the security of explosives and detonators. Many experts are taking the time to come to Brussels and discuss these issues with us. This demonstrates that there is an interest to work together.

We must avoid doing research in isolation. EU funding opportunities encourage partnerships and help avoid companies, government, industry and universities doing research in isolation.

Working together will deliver better security to EU citizens. New technology will continue to challenge us. We must have long term plans in place which go beyond 2009 and the Hague Programme, our current Justice Freedom and Security work programme. There is much future work planned, where we will continue to rely on working with private partners.

Some action has already started. In May 2007 I published a Communication on Cyber crime, aiming at addressing issues such as identity theft, payment fraud, and fighting illegal web content, especially child sexual abuse material. These measures will include research on technological solutions to block, close down and trace illegal internet sites. New technology is the very thing to fight the problems caused by new technology such as illegal internet sites. We can develop innovative technologies to become leaders in the field.

Through a better use of technology we can also have more security and more data protection: in May we published a Communication on Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs). I believe that in the future we will be able to run complex and performing databases without facing the data protection problems we face today because of the lack of dedicated technological solutions.

Therefore, I welcome and support strongly the Forum it is convened today, that brings together the different actors in security research and innovation. I am confident that the newly elected Chairman and Vice Chairmen will help the Forum achieve these ambitious goals.