New headquarters of European Union Agency for Cybersecurity inaugurated in Athens

The rising level of cyber security threats in Europe as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine was a key point raised during the meeting of officials involved in this event, it was reported.

"ENISA's role becomes even more pertinent during the current [geopolitical] climate," Pierrakakis noted, "as we are facing an unprecedented crisis in several aspects (...), urging the EU to quickly reinforce the level of cybersecurity within our member states, and to step up efforts in order to create a European Cyber Shield."

The Greek minister also pointed out that "we need to protect our digital world and technologies the same way we need to protect our physical world. Therefore it's highly important to convey messages for reinforcing our cybersecurity cooperation, mutual assistance and solidarity at EU level."

Greece, said Pierrakakis, has the ability to create a significant digital ecosystem for cybersecurity.

"Today’s inauguration of the new ENISA headquarters is a strong symbol in the dark times we are living through," noted Shinas: "The war at our doorstep is not only raging in the streets of Kiev or in Mariupol. It adds to the growing number of threats that have been relentlessly targeting the EU and its neighbours in the past weeks and months."

"ENISA was born out of the wish to make our European societies and citizens cyber-safe," he added.

Finally, ENISA Executive Director Juhan Lepassaar noted that "the new headquarters provides ENISA with a firm basis to implement its mandate of achieving a common high level of cybersecurity in Europe with a 'new home' for staff and our collaborators within the cybersecurity community."