ERTICO News: New European Organization for Security (EOS) includes ERTICO

Date: 24 July 2007

Initiative aims at promotion of more coherent European Union security market – including transport.

The European Organization for Security (EOS) was incorporated 5 July 2007 and has now started its operational activities. EOS is an industry initiative open to private non-governmental stakeholders engaged in civil security (companies, industry associations and research centres). Its formation is a direct result of the recommendations made by the European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB), which advocated a close private/public interaction in security research under the EC’s 7th Research Framework Programme. Twelve companies – including ERTICO - ITS Europe – as well as other associations and research centres signed the incorporation documents, and membership is expected to increase over the summer. The creation-process of EOS was announced in the presence of high representatives from the European Commission at the second European Security Research Conference in late March in Berlin.

A more coherent EU security market
EOS notes that it has two main goals:
• promote a more coherent European Union security market
• contribute to the definition of a holistic European civil security policy

By linking the demand side with the supply chain, EOS notes that it will act as a facilitator, thus contributing strongly to the creation of comprehensive and state-of-the-art civil security solutions for citizens, governments and the whole European economy. It aims to also further enhance the strong momentum in the European security sector. During its start-up phase, EOS will enjoy organizational and structural support from the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).

EOS will work closely with the European Commission, and the European Security Research and Innovation Forum (ESRIF), but it adds that its activities will go beyond security innovation. It plans to act as a link between the European Commission, European and national institutions and EOS members, as well as between the members themselves.

Markus Hellenthal, Senior Vice President of EADS, previous chair of the European Security Advisory Board (ESRAB) and one of the main forces behind EOS states, “EOS will actively encourage the development and implementation of innovative security technologies, common procedures, systems and services. EOS will also contribute to the creation of a more homogenous European market for security solutions. Based on this, EOS will directly support European competitiveness in civil security solutions on a global scale.”

“We are very pleased by the enthusiastic response from the industry,” says EOS CEO Luigi Rebuffi. “This response proves that EOS fills a gap in supporting a coordinated implementation of results from European security research across sectors. Now that EOS has been incorporated we expect the membership to increase rapidly, thus ensuring a wide level of representation from different sectors.”

ERTICO in EOS
ERTICO is one of the founding partners of EOS, and ERTICO Director of Development & Deployment Michael Nielsen also serves on the EOS Board of Directors. Mr Nielsen explains, “ERTICO’s contribution to EOS will look at how ITS can improve the security of road transport. We look forward to working with EOS to realise its aims.”

For further information on EOS, please contact Sara Goldberger (PR & Communications Manager), sara.goldberger@asd-europe.org