THE EU HAS AGREED to prop up the life of its Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) by three years.

The Internet security watchdog, which was set up in 2004, was due to be closed down next year.

However the EC decided that the rise in cyber-crime and attacks such as one suffered by Estonia means the watchdog needs a longer life.

It has been decided to give the body a three-year stay of execution until 2012 to give the EU to decide how to take ENISA forward.

The European Parliament is set to formally endorse the move next week.

ENISA's executive director Andrea Pirotti told Reuters that network security was crucial for the European economy, which increasingly depends on a trouble-free Internet.

Pirotti said the EU would still need secure networks, systems and services after 2012. It's probably just as well that he noticed.

However, ENISA only has an annual budget of €8 million and less than 50 staff. It could not tackle cyber attacks like that experienced by Estonia last year, when the Baltic state accused Russia of causing government Web Sites to crash. µ

L'Inq
Reuters