EURAM

Generating a European risk assessment methodology for critical infrastructures

EURAM is working to build a basic common methodology for the analysis of interdependencies between Critical Infrastructures (CI) of the same sectors and between CI of different sectors and different countries. It is also looking at the criteria methodology to define priority areas as well as define CI sensitiveness on (inter)dependencies.

The security and economy of the EU, as well as the well-being of its citizens, depends on certain infrastructures and the services they provide. The destruction or disruption of key infrastructures could entail the loss of lives and property, as well as a collapse in public confidence. In order to counteract these potential vulnerabilities, in 2004 the European Council requested the development of a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP). For this programme, common methodologies and common understanding of CIs is required.

Dealing effectively with these threats requires methods for risk assessment and risk management. Although risk management procedures exist or are under development in different Member States for various sectors and threats, there is a need for a wider coordination of these procedures. This could include some common basic elements and transversal approach within a sector in different Member States, with one or more Member States and other sectors. The lack of a cross-sector approach leads to duplication and fragmentation, problems of interoperability and cost-efficiency of security systems and infrastructures, especially when solutions for the protection of critical infrastructure are limited to a national approach.

EURAM’s activities to define general risk assessment methodology criteria applicable to the different sectors would harmonise national CI qualifications at a European level. A European methodology for comparing levels of criticality and impact would be beneficial because a large number of key private sector companies in CI are operating across EU borders. There is a clear need for the competitiveness of the private sector to have a super-national/pan-European approach on critical infrastructure protection.

Objectives

• Support to the definition of a common EU framework for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) by defining procedures for creating qualified and trusted expert networks.
• Identify basic elements for an EU methodology for general risk assessment.
• Identify elements for a common methodology for analysis of (inter)dependences supporting identification of European CI and public resource priorities for CIP.
• Build trust and co-operation among CIP EU public-private stakeholders.

Duration and Funding
December 2006 – November 2007. Funding through EC Directorate General for Justice, Freedom and Security

Consortium
Coordinator: TNO

Partners: Ericsson, ERTICO - ITS Europe, Thales

Contact
Gary Bridgeman    
+32 (0)2 400 07 44

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