The Council of the European Union (EU) formally adopted new rules to step up the security of network and information systems across the EU on Tuesday.
The network and information security (NIS) directive would increase cooperation between EU member states on the vital issue of cyber security, said the council.
It lays down security obligations for operators of essential services, in critical sectors such as energy, transport, health and finance, and for digital service providers including online marketplaces, search engines and cloud services.
Each EU member state would also be required to designate one or more national authorities and to establish a strategy for dealing with cyber threats, said the council.
The Netherlands presidency together with the EU Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) has already started preparing the implementation of the directive.
To conclude the procedure, the legal act must still be approved by the European Parliament, and the directive is expected to enter into force in August 2016, said the Council. (Xinhua)
