On 7 September 2004 the European Commission adopted a communication that outlines the future of security research in Europe.

The Communication expresses the Commission's commitment to respond to increasing security challenges and calls for the establishment and launch of a European Security Research Programme by 2007.

The Communication emphasizes the need for a coherent European strategy to "overcome structural and functional deficiencies: reducing fragmentation and duplication of effort, increasing cooperation, and achieving standardisation and interoperability".

Information and communication technologies have traditionally formed a cornerstone of security research. Increased European efforts in the field can contribute to European competitiveness and economic growth, especially with an emphasis on exploiting the overlaps and mutual benefits in civil and defense research, as suggested by the Communication.

The approach outlined in the Communication includes

- consultation with stakeholders through a "European Security Research Advisory Board",
- the initiation of a European Security Research Programme (ESRP) as part of the 7th Framework Programme,
- cooperation and coordination with other European policies and actions in the field, and
- the establishment of effective mechanisms for the management and implementation of the ESRP.

Initial steps taken by the Commission include the launch of a "Preparatory Action on Security Research" (PASR), as well as the setup of a high level Group of Personalities composed of European policymakers and industrial experts, that presented its recommendations in the document "Research for a Secure Europe".

Preparatory Action on Security Research (PASR)

The Preparatory Action is a three year programme with a budget of 65 million Euros distributed over the period of 2004 to 2006. It published the first call for proposals for short term security projects on 31 March 2004. 170 proposals were submitted, 12 of which are set to be launched in December 2004.

The priorities addressed in the first call included:
(i) Improving situation awareness;
(ii) Optimising security and protection of networked systems;
(iii) Protecting against terrorism (including bio-terrorism and incidents with biological, chemical and other substances);
(iv) Enhancing crisis management (including evacuation, search and rescue operations, active agents control and remediation);
(v) Achieving interoperability and integrated systems for information and communication.

Two further calls are expected under the PASR in 2005 and 2006.

Further information

- Security Research website of the Commission

- Commission Communication: "Security Research: The Next Steps" - 7 September 2004

- Report of the Group of Personalities in the Field of Security Research: "Research for a Secure Europe" - 15 March 2004

- Commission Communication, "Towards a Programme to Advance European Security through Research and Technology", COM(2004) 72 final - 3 February 2004

- Commission Decision on the implementation of the Preparatory Action on the Enhancement of the European Industrial Potential in the Field of Security Research, C(2004) 249 final - 3 February 2004

- Implementation of the Preparatory Action, C(2004) 249 final - 3 February 2004

Sources

European Commission:

- European Commission (EC). 3 August 2004. "Strong response to EU call for security proposals". Retrieved from EC Security Research, News and features.

- European Commission (EC). 9 September 2004. "EU blueprint for Security Research programme". (IP/04/1090). Retrieved from EC Press Releases.