More Security against Terrorism

The protection of critical infrastructures, i.e. infrastructures, which are of existential significance for the State, industry and society, is becoming increasingly important. It is obvious that all the forces in society are called upon: the interdependence of infrastructures demands joint action in the building up of a comprehensive security concept against operations by terrorists.

With the foundation of the "<link http: www.aksis.org external-link-new-window externen link in neuem>Working Group for the Security of Infrastructures" (AKSIS) upon the initiative of IABG, a forum has been created in which information on the security of infrastructures and questions of common interest are discussed and possible joint programmes involving industry, public authorities and research can be examined. Such a forum cannot replace the direct dialog between ministries and industry, but it can contribute to the build-up of confidence so that a dialogue can be to the point and successful.

Simultaneously, a discussion has been initiated concerning who is responsible for the security of the infrastructures. In this, there is a conflict of interests between the State, in its responsibility for general well-being, and industry, for which a balance has always to be drawn between investments in security, profits and shareholder value. In globalisation times, regulatory and legislative measures to solve the problem 'from above' are not always unproblematical. Increasingly, the view is gaining ground that the measures necessary should be tackled for example as part of Private Public Partnerships.

In the framework of the 5. and 6. development programmes, the EU has also commenced projects to deal with the security of infrastructures. As part of the Analysis and Assessment for Critical Infrastructure Protection Project (ACIP), which was worked on under the leadership of IABG by a European consortium, a "Roadmap" for the development of a comprehensive method architecture has been generated to analyse the inter-dependencies and to assess measures to increase the security of infrastructures. The realisation of ACIP and proposals for an application-oriented usage as part of the CRITERIA project were offered by an international consortium of 20 members under the lead management of IABG as part of an invitation to tender issued by the EU. From the very beginning, potential users from industry, public authorities and research are involved in the development of planning exercises. Close cooperation with the responsible national authorities is in this process necessary, as only joint efforts can be successful and, in the final instance, lead to an overall savings in resources.

Europe takes, with the realisation of this programme, a large step forwards on the way to an integrated, cross-border approach, supported and implemented by industry and public authorities for the protection of its infrastructures.