Page 143 - Cyber Terrorism and Extremism as Threat to Critical Infrastructure Protection

ALEXANDRU GEORGESCU, ADRIAN VICTOR VEVERA, CARMEN ELENA CÎRNU: A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
PERSPECTIVE ON COUNTER-TERRORISM IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

Figure 5: The Romanian model for Critical Infrastructure Protection in its basic form (up-
per) (Source: Mureșan & Georgescu, 2015)

Figure 5 expand on Figure 2 and reflect the Romanian model for a CIP framework that could
be used as a basis for adaptation.

The end result should be a system which is as compatible with the European norms as that
of any EU Member State, and thereby capable of cooperation and coordination with trans-
border CIP activities and existing mechanisms within the EPCIP, and also other governance
mechanisms. This approach reflects not only the assistance that countries can receive, but also
the reality of the regional interdependencies between critical infrastructures, and the existing
governance mechanisms, making a convergent approach desirable, regardless of the state of
political projects.

4.2 Cooperation with the EU

There are multiple levels of cooperation which are required within the SEE region.

The first is between the EU and the countries in question. The EU should make the implementa-
tion of the CIP framework a cornerstone of the accession process, and rate it just as highly as re-
forms in the judicial process and the general implementation of the “acquis”. This should be ac-
companied by specific technical assistance for the implementation in each particular state. There
are multiple models than can be applied – assistance may come at its own initiative, as part of
security sector reform processes, or as part of a regional initiative such as the general coopera-
tion framework with the EU (EC, 2020a). The latter is especially interesting as the EU-Western
Balkans framework is sufficiently developed to permit a seamless integration of CIP efforts.

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