A European Parliament report on the fight against cybercrime, adopted recently, proposes a number of steps including enhancing the capabilities of the EU Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and the introduction of educational courses on the Internet from the secondary education onward, Rapporteur Elissavet Vozemberg has said.

The Member of European Parliament (EPP) was speaking to Cypriot journalists in the context of a seminar organised by the European Parliament and the European Commission in Brussels.

She said, inter alia, that her report is balanced and was adopted by a great majority of MEPs from all political groups and at the same time it is in line with the reforms in mind by the European Commission itself as to Internet security and protection from cybercrime. It also includes both steps for prevention and to combat existing crime.

According to the data the MEP presented, 50% of annual crimes take place on the Internet, from 2015 to 2016 there was an increase of 20% in cybercrimes, while 4,000 cybercrimes were committed within one year and 80% of businesses in Europe have fallen victim to a cybercrime.

“We are proposing that specialised training takes place at secondary education level,” Vozemberg said. While the Internet can be a tool for information, training and education, she added, it can also become a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

She said further that among other steps the report proposes that ENISA, which is based in Crete, is enhanced with both human resources and equipment.

Replying to a question as to the dangers of cybercrime she said one of the gravest dangers is considered the organisation, recruitment and funding of terrorist organisations through the Internet.