The member states' Permanent Representatives endorsed the compromise reached with the European Parliament negotiators, thus paving the way for the adoption of the draft regulation at first reading which establishes a new mandate for the European Union Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).

The European Union Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) whose current mandate will expire on 13 September this year, was set up in 2004 with the goal of ensuring a high level of network and information security across the EU. Now the member states' Permanent representatives endorsed the compromise reached with the European Parliament's negotiators for extending the Agency's mandate. In February 2012, MEPs at the Industry Committee approved to strengthen the European Network and Information Security Agency.

According to the Council, the new regulation proposed by the European Commission in October 2010 aims to strengthen and modernise the agency so as to enhance its efficiency. Moreover, ENISA's governing structure will be reinforced and its procedures streamlined. Its new mandate will cover a period of 7 years, with the possibility to extend the duration of the mandate of the agency if warranted by an assessment of its work.

Since the creation of the Agency in 2004, the challenges for the security of electronic communications have been continuously expanding, with increasing threats from cyber attacks. Against this background, and also in view of the role ENISA is supposed to play in the forthcoming cyber strategy to be presented by the Commission, the Council pointed out the need of a new mandate for the European Union Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).