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EPCIP – European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection
This page gives a general presentation in three parts:
I) Latest developments
II) General context
More funding related to the protection of critical infrastructure is possible under the Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terr orism and other Security Related Risks Programme.
Background on EPCIP
On 17-18 June 2004, the European Council asked the Commission to prepare an overall strategy to enhance the protection of critical infrastructures1. In response, the Commission transmitted on 22 October 2004 a Communication entitled "Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Fight against Terrorism"2 putting forward suggestions to enhance European prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks involving critical infrastructures (CI).
The Commission's intention to propose a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) and a Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) was accepted by the 16‑17 December 2004 European Council3 in the Council conclusions on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks4 and in the Solidarity Programme5, both adopted by the Council on 2 December 2004.
Throughout 2005, intensive work was done on the elaboration of EPCIP. Two European seminars on critical infrastructure protection and a number of informal meetings were held bringing together experts from all EU Member States. This work culminated in the adoption by the Commission on 17 November 2005 of the Green Paper on a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (COM (2005) 576 final).
The Green Paper exercise was followed by a detailed impact assessment and the adoption on the 12 th of December 2006 of a policy package on EPCIP composed of a communication and a Directive. The communication deals with general policy in connection with EPCIP (CIWIN, work-streams to develop EPCIP, sectoral interdependencies, annual work planning and the residual work on National Critical Infrastructure) whereas the Directive focuses on the designation of critical infrastructure of a European dimension (European Critical Infrastructure or "ECI").
The financing of EPCIP
The Green Paper on the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (COM (2005) 576 final) clearly foresees a number of funding sources for activities related to the protection of critical infrastructures in Europe. The Commission is prepared to participate in the funding of CIP-related measures including relevant studies and the development of specific methodologies. Funding for concrete hardware updates, however, would have to be found from other sources.
The Communication on EPCIP adopted on the 12 th of December 2006 also puts forward the possibility of financing EPCIP by way of the first annual Programme "Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence management of Terrorism".
The Commission’s financial commitment to enhancing the security of Europe’s critical infrastructures was demonstrated in the Pilot Project on the Fight against Terrorism of 2005, where 3.7 M€ worth of grants were awarded under the EPCIP Call for proposals.
EPCIP funding under the Pilot Project
The Commission adopted on 26 October 2006 a second Decision (C/2006/5025) on the financing of a Pilot Project containing a set of preparatory actions with a view to strengthening the Fight against Terrorism.
The general objective of the Pilot Project, as defined in the commentary of Article 18 05 06 of the 2006 general budget of the European Union, is to tap into the full potential of the fight against terrorism and to speed up the Community’s activities to further improve the security of citizens and to combat terrorism, in particular by filling the gaps between the various existing Community activities.
As mentioned, the Decision C/2005/5025 concerns a set of preparatory actions that cover both the award of subventions and calls for tenders.
One of the key elements of the Pilot Project is the Programme for Critical Infrastructure which supports, among other things, activities associated with the specific objective of enhancing protection of critical infrastructure. In 2007, the Call for proposals on Protection of Critical Infrastructure under the Pilot Project has a 3M€ budgetary envelope.
What is the purpose of the Pilot Project on CIP
The general focus of the Pilot Project with regard to the protection of critical infrastructure was to support the recently adopted European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection.
What is the future of the Pilot Project on CIP
The Commission is committed to a longer-term approach to the protection of critical infrastructures in Europe, as is clearly demonstrated by the adoption of the EPCIP package on the 12th of December 2006. Consequently, a number of funding opportunities will become available in the coming months and years.
General objective
The 2007Call for proposals specified that the Pilot Project’s objective was to support the identification and development of measures to protect critical infrastructure including the development and refinement of methodologies.
What are the specific themes for projects
The 2007 Call for proposals foresaw six themes under which specific projects could be financed:
- Enhancement of protection measures for critical infrastructure
- Vulnerabilities and resilience of critical infrastructure, including developing methodologies
- Risk mitigation strategies and threat assessments for critical infrastructure
- Development of contingency plans
- Development of common security standards and innovative technologies for protection of critical infrastructure
- Trans-national projects, which must involve partners in at least two Member States, or at least one Member State and an applicant country.
The EU contribution to the costs
The EU contribution to the cost of the activities concerned was limited to 70% of all eligible costs.
The total budget planned for grants under the 2007 Call for proposals of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection was 3 million euros.
The Call for proposals was published in February 2007 (O.J. C 026 of 06.02.2007) with deadline for submission of proposals on 16 April 2007.
Who can benefit from CIP Pilot Project funding
The Pilot Project is addressed to:
- owners and operators of critical infrastructure
- regulators
- professional bodies and business/industry associations
- standardisation bodies
- those responsible for critical infrastructures
Project proposals may be submitted by, and grants can be awarded to, Member States' authorities dealing with critical infrastructure protection, relevant national and EU research institutions, the owners/operators of critical infrastructures, business/industry associations and standardisation bodies.
1 10679/2/04 REV 2, no. 19.
2 13979/04, COM (2004) 702.
3 16238/1/04 REV sub 5, bullet 6.
4 15232/04, no. 17.
5 EU Solidarity Programme of 2 December 2004 on the consequences of terrorist threats and attacks (revised/widened CBRN Programme), 15480/04; see nos. 24 and 25 and Annex, no. 2.