Cyber security key topic

MUNICH - Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, attending the Munich Security Conference, presented on Feb. 2 Lithuania’s experience in the field of cyber security. The discussion, hosted by the government of the Federal Land of Bavaria, also included a digital agenda, which will be one of the underlying topics during the upcoming Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The president pointed out that cyber security issues are no longer a matter of NATO’s competence only - they are becoming increasingly important to the EU as well. Not only with regard to protection of countries, their institutions and organizations, but also of individuals, which are growing more and more urgent. One of the European Council meetings during Lithuania’s presidency will be dedicated to the digital agenda.
The discussion was also attended and remarks made by the EU Commissioner for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, members of the European Parliament, and representatives of the U.S. Department of State.

The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) initiative, launched by the European Commission in 2010, aims to help Europe’s citizens and businesses to get the most out of digital technologies and to promote sustainable economic growth. The initiative is designed to boost Internet trust and security and to create the Internet service providers’ market with no barriers for electronic services across the EU.

During its presidency of the EU Council, Lithuania will host the ICT2013 conference, with Grybauskaite as its patron.
According to her, cyber and energy security is a topical issue on the current security agenda. The Lithuania-based Energy Security Center became a NATO-accredited center of excellence in 2012. Lithuania also maintains intense cooperation with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence in Estonia.
The president attended the discussion at the invitation of the Bavarian State Minister for Federal and European Affairs Emilia Muller.

During the visit, Grybauskaite gave an interview to the largest German business daily, Handesblatt, and the official broadcaster of the Conference - Bavarian Television.