MEPs push EU Commission for answers on healthcare cybersecurity funding – Euractiv
MEPs raised concerns on Wednesday over the lack of clear information on how to finance the Commission’s action plan on cybersecurity for hospitals and healthcare providers.
The action plan aims to protect healthcare organisations from cyber threats through a set of measures, including creating a dedicated centre within the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).
It also foresees the use of the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox, an EU coordination mechanism for diplomatic statements and sanctions, to safeguard the EU’s healthcare systems.
However, when first presented on 17 January, it did not include additional funding.
“There is a lot of talk about action, but we have no concrete figures. What budget, what source?” questioned EPP MEP Tomislav Sokol.
He called on the Commission to be more transparent “throughout the process” so that the EU can secure the “necessary resources” for implementing the action plan.
Concerns over funding cut across political lines in the Parliament. S&D MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis said that money was likely the most important question.
His colleague from the Renew group, Stine Bosse, also requested precise figures, both on funding sources and on the rise in cyberattacks within the EU.
Independent MEP Kateřina Konečná said:
This plan does not include any clear plan for financing the measures, which leads me to doubt its implementation,
According to her, the priority should be to avoid increasing the administrative and technical burden on hospitals.
The Commission remains vague
The Commission offered little clarity in response, stating that member states would play a role in funding the plan as part of a “joint effort” and that investments would create a “leverage effect” with other programs included in the EU budget.
It only cautiously indicated that specific funding was foreseen for ENISA.
But the issue of funding is likely to resurface quickly in Parliament discussions, as the issue continues to gain momentum.
Between 2022 and 2023, cyber incidents increased from 890 to over 1,000. More than 300 of these targeted healthcare services, with 43% of cases aimed at obtaining a ransom.
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MEPs push EU Commission for answers on healthcare cybersecurity funding – Euractiv, source
