EU and US agree to run joint cyberwar exercise in 2011

The EU and the US are to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the face of mounting global cyber-security and cybercrime threats.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and the US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano have agreed to run a joint EU-US cyber-incident exercise by the end of 2011. The US has been running cyber-war security exercises for some years, while the EU held its first, Cyber Europe 2010, late last year.

There is also a commitment to share good practice, both between themselves and the private sector. Key issues identified include fighting botnets, securing industrial control systems (such as water treatment and power generation) and enhancing the resilience and stability of the internet.

The EU and the US will continue to cooperate to tackle online child pornography by working with domain-name registrars and registries.