Category Archives: General

Global stability through the EU’s neighbourhood and enlargement policies: Exporting stability or importing instability – this is the question

By Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Brussels “Europe’s prosperity and security cannot be entirely separated from that of its neighbours.” We live in uncertain times. Our continent has experienced multiple crises in the last few years, the effects of which are still ongoing; the financial crisis, the migration crisis, the…

Telecommunications need protection

By Dr Christoph Erdmann, Managing Director of Secusmart, Düsseldorf Terrorist attacks, mass shootings, and war – security is the defining issue of our time. It is a huge challenge for us all. Every man, woman, and child has an inherent need to feel safe. The floods of refugees currently entering Europe are a clear indication…

Strength in partnership

By Maj Gen (ret) Koen Gijsbers, General Manager, NATO Communications and Information Agency, Brussels “The decision to recognise cyber as an operational domain alongside the existing environmental domains of land, maritime and air, will change the way that NATO plans and conducts operations so that cyberdefence is built into the planning from the start.” Today’s…

Cooperation in cyber is a must

By Peter Round, Managing Director of PKR Solutions, Bedale Divide and rule is an old principle and we don’t have to look farto find leaders using the principle. We are living in an increasingly challenging security environment, which is forcing Europe to rethink its posture, role and strategies in defence and security. Is there already…

A European strategy to counter cybercrime

By Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol, The Hague “As cybercriminals are constantly changing the rules of the game, complementarity, flexibility and innovation are paramount to the successful implementation of the Union’s blueprint for ensuring cybersecurity.” Combatting cybercrime is often depicted as a battle betweenthe police and the cybercriminals. The exponential growth of cyber-enabled and cyber-facilitated…

No successful digitalisation without cybersecurity

By Arne Schönbohm, President of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Bonn “IT security has become one of the central requirements of information and communication technologies.” Powerful and secure communication systems are the central nervous system of 21st century society. Hardly any part of society can do without reliable and secure IT and communication…

First GovSat multi-mission satellite launched

On 31 January, the multi-mission satellite GovSat-1 was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. GovSat-1 is the first satellite of GovSat, a public private partnership between the Government of Luxembourg and the world-leading satellite operator SES. Operated by GovSat from the Secure Mission Operations…

13th Security Union Progress Report

On 24 January, the European Commission reported on the progress made towards an effective and genuine Security Union, including priorities such as countering radicalisation, enhancing cybersecurity and protecting public spaces. The Commissioner for the Security Union, Julian King, said: “Over the past year we have intensified efforts to close information gaps, fight radicalisation, scale up…

Merkel and Macron promise a new Elysée Treaty

55 years ago, on 22 January 1963, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Elysée Treaty aimed at achieving reconciliation between France and the Federal Republic of Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on 19 January 2018 in Paris to draft a new French-German treaty during the course of…