Today the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) and the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formally establish cooperation for exchange of information, expertise and best practices in the areas of IT security, training and research.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the heads of the two institutions, establishes the framework for regular cooperation based on common interests and objectives. eu-LISA and the Academy will exchange expertise and best practice primarily in the fields of training courses and modules including e-learning for enhanced trainings that are provided to practitioners working in the area of freedom, security and justice. The Agency and the Academy may also cooperate in terms of the use of training tools and survey systems. Both institutions also focus on research monitoring and therefore sharing findings on technological solutions relevant to large-scale IT systems, IT security, data protection and business continuity is also part of the MoU.
The Executive Director of eu-LISA Mr Krum GARKOV commented: "It is in the mandate of eu-LISA to perform tasks relating to training on the technical use of the IT systems under our responsibility at present and in the future. It is therefore very much in the interest of the Agency to have clear working relations with partners who have a strong record in learning and teaching activities and applied research. Together with the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences we will create the necessary synergies that meet the needs of the practitioners in the Member States."
The Rector of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Mr Lauri TABUR noted: "We are interested in enhancing the focus on IT security in the training provided to our students as well as cooperating in setting up new training courses benefiting both parties. The agreement signed today contributes to reaching these goals."
Background:
The European Agency, eu-LISA, was established to manage large scale information systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. It fulfils the operational management tasks for the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS) and Eurodac. The Agency thereby supports the implementation of the EU's border management, asylum and migration policies. The Agency is responsible for keeping all the IT systems under its control permanently functional in order to allow continuous and uninterrupted exchange of data between national authorities. eu-LISA ensures that it applies the highest levels of information security and data protection to the information entrusted to it. The seat of the Agency is in Tallinn (Estonia), the operational management is carried out in Strasbourg (France) with the business continuity technical site in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria). The Agency was formally established in November 2012 and started its operations on 1 December 2012. The Agency is managed and represented by the Executive Director Mr Krum Garkov who came to office on 1 November 2012.
The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (EASS) is a state institution, belonging in the area of government under the Estonian Ministry of the Interior, which provides professional education for civil servants. The Academy was established in 1992. The objective of the EASS is to create, through internal security related academic education, research and development activities, and through the training of honest and competent public servants, a secure state and conditions for stable development across the country and therewith contribute to the security of the entire EU.
The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences is the first higher education institution with which eu-LISA has signed a cooperation agreement. The Agency has previously concluded cooperation agreements with other partners such as the European Police College (CEPOL) in 2013 as well as with the European Agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the Member States of the EU (Frontex) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in 2014.
Links:
eu-LISA: http://www.eulisa.europa.eu
The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences: http://www.sisekaitse.ee/eass/
Contact:
for media requests:
Communication and Information Officer
e-mail: press@eulisa.europa.eu
for general information:
e-mail: info@eulisa.europa.eu
