COUNTERACTING THREATS TO CRITICAL ENERGYINFRASTRUCTURES THROUGH SECURITY TRAINING

Abstract

The article summarizes the scope, findings and recommendations from the EC
research project COUNTERACT (Cluster Of User Networks in Transport and Energy Relating
to Anti-terrorist ACTivities) - specifically from the targeted study: “Counteracting Threats to
Critical Energy Infrastructures through Security Training”, undertaken by the Population
Protection Institute (PPI), Czech Republic – a member of the Energy Cluster.
Energy security is one of the key elements of current energy policies in Europe.
Sudden, short term disruptions can originate from a variety of events, political or trade
disputes, natural disasters and malicious attacks. In the course of redefining its security policy,
the European Union recognized the need for an improved understanding of the vulnerability of
European critical infrastructures to terrorist attacks and through the Directorate-General for
Energy supported the COUNTERACT project, whose objectives were to better understand the
terrorism to Energy Infrastructure, collect available experience and existing best practices,
identify existing gaps in knowledge, tools or policies, conduct targeted studies to close minor
gaps, elaborate recommendations and focus for future research activities, and recommend best
practice measures to enhance protection and improve preparedness and response.