WIREDGOV

The EU security industry faces a highly fragmented internal market and a weak industrial base.

National regulatory frameworks and standards differ widely and the market for security products is highly diversified, ranging from cameras to complex scanner systems.

Therefore, it is essential to develop a fast-track system for approval of priority technologies; to make substantial further progress on harmonisation, standardisation; to consider coordinated public procurement; and to accelerate R&D on security technologies including dual-use.

To promote this industry the Commission has launched today a public consultation to invite all interested parties to share their views on the best policy measures to be taken to make Europe’s security industry a world leader.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "The security industry is an integral part of the proper functioning of our society. Therefore, the current fragmented market should be overcome. It weakens the competitiveness of Europe’s security industry and endangers its ability to provide technologies necessary to ensure the security of the European citizens. This needs to be changed."

We have become more and more dependent on technologies and infrastructures such as electricity network, internet, public transport, aviation, or telecommunications. Human accidents or natural disasters can cause major damage to human beings and the environment. Moreover, they may easily disrupt basic economic infrastructures. In other words, even though technology cannot guarantee security, there is no security without technology.

The aim of this Public Consultation is to provide the Commission with an overview of the perspectives of the relevant stakeholders, from public administration, to industry, NGO and citizens.

The consultation will focus on the following three aspects:

• Means to overcome the market fragmentation (i.e. certification and standardisation procedures).

• Reinforcing the security industrial base (i.e. access to international markets, synergies between civil and military technologies and liability related issues).

• Closer cooperation between manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers on one side and with clients on the other.

• The societal dimension of security - i.e. ensuring the privacy compliance of security technologies (data protection).
  
  

Background
The Communication on an "industrial policy for security" has been announced in the context of the Communication of the European Commission: “An Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era Putting Competitiveness and Sustainability at Centre Stage” (IP/10/1434).

The public consultation will be open from the 14th of March to the 13th of May 2011, the consultation can be found on the "Your Voice in Europe" website under the following link:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/security/industrial-policy/public-consultation/index_en.htm