WRITTEN QUESTION E-3162/02

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 2002)

Subject: Threat to the integrity of networks and the Commission's role in this connection

1. The sudden disappearance of a company such as KPN Qwest can have serious repercussions for the operation of infrastructure. Is the Commission aware that there was a threat that the KPN Qwest network might collapse?

2. A number of parts of the KPN fibre-optic network have been sold. This has repercussions for access to, and the operation of, pan-European networks. What body monitors the integrity of networks in the EU?

3. What opportunities does the Commission have to influence policy decisions?

4. Will monitoring of the integrity of networks form one of the tasks of the Cyber Security Task Force which is to be set up, and, if not, should it form one of its tasks, in the Commission's view?

5. Will the Commission be putting forward additional proposals (for example to widen the functions of the Cyber Security Task Force) in order to deal with eventualities of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 2002)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for the interest taken on the issue of the increasing threats jeopardising the availability of electronic communication networks and services.

The Commission has been following with particular interest the developments since KPN Qwest filed for bankruptcy on 31 May 2002. The Dutch data carrier being one of Europe's largest Internet backbone operator, numerous Internet service providers, corporations and other telecom carriers have contracts with KPN Qwest to pass their data through its lines.

The Commission has identified this situation as the first case of possible unavailability of information networks as described in the Commission Communication on network and information security(1). This unfortunate event has also reminded users of electronic communication networks not to depend completely on a single provider.

The existing Community regulatory framework foresees that Member States should ensure the integrity of networks (article 8.4 (f) and article 23 of the Universal Service Directive, Directive 2002/22/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services(2)). However, there are several overlapping issues at stake such as cybersecurity, emergency communications, national security concerns, etc.

An initial discussion on network integrity has taken place with Member States in the context of the Communications Committee. Issues such as economic failure, technical shortcomings and external events, such as terrorist attacks, have been addressed, although no common perception of the issue has been perceived. Additional work is planned to identify more closely the issues at stake, especially in the area of the protection of critical infrastructures.

The gathering and analysis of data related to possible disruptive events, could in due course be included in the tasks of the currently considered Network and Information Security Unit (Cyber Security Task Force). This could provide the Commission with elements to develop a European network integrity policy.

The work on integrity related issues conducted in the Communications Committee should enable the Commission to define the role of the public sector and exchange information on possible remedies with other organisations (e.g. CEPT, ETNO, ITU, NATO(3)).

The Commission will keep the Honourable Member informed about the developments of the policy work done in these areas.

(1) COM(2001) 298 final.

(2) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002.

(3) European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations; European Public Telecommunications Network Operators; International Telecommunication Union; North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.