WIREDGOV

Following the successful vote* on the NIS directive on cyber security yesterday in Strasbourg, Vice President Neelie Kroes said:

This vote today is very positive news for European citizens, and I would like to thank the Rapporteur, Andreas Schwab, for his hard and efficient work, as well as everyone who has worked on this report.

Member States need to be ready to address cyber attacks. Today there are gaps in some countries and we need to fill them.

We are only as strong as the weakest link!

Let's work together to show that governments and lawmakers are part of the solution to online trust – not part of the problem.

Now we must all engage closely with the Member States, make sure that they realise the importance of this issue, and aim for a final agreement by the end of 2014.

But speed should not be at the expense of substance. People need to regain trust in technology, with the legal safeguards that protect their interests.

My ambition is to make Europe the world's safest online space. I hope that the European Parliament and national Governments share this ambition.

Watch the debate in the European Parliament from last night, and read VP Kroes' full intervention

*521 in favour; 22 against; 25 abstentions

Contacts :

Email: comm-kroes@ec.europa.eu Tel: +32.229.57361 Twitter: @RyanHeathEU