The European Commission adopted a proposal for new laws against cybercrime to harmonise laws that deal with hacking, viruses and denial of service attacks. All EU Member States are also members of the Council of Europe which recently agreed a Cybercrime Convention with the same aim

            The Commission adopted its proposal for a Council Framework Decision on "Attacks against information systems" seeks to ensure that Europe's law enforcement and judicial authorities can take action against crimes for which existing laws were not designed. It also aims to encourage and promote information security. Antonio Vitorino, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, said:

          "Member States' laws contain some significant gaps which could hamper the ability of law enforcement and judicial authorities to respond to crimes against information systems. Given the trans-national nature of hacking, virus and denial of service attacks, it is important that the European Union takes action in this area to ensure effective police and judicial co-operation."

           The Framework Decision that is now being proposed would approximate criminal law rules and facilitate judicial co-operation for hacking, described by the Commission as “illegal access to information systems” and denial of service and virus attacks – described as “illegal interference with information systems.” The Commission says its proposed Framework Decision is technology neutral and “takes account of the broader Information Society context.” The Commission says the proposed Framework Decision also takes into account other international activities such as the work of the G8 and the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.