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The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), a small body set up in 2004, was due to be closed down next year, however, rising cyber-crime and attacks such as one suffered by EU member Estonia last year has triggered a rethink.

The bloc's 27 telecoms industry ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, agreed a three-year reprieve until 2012 to give them time to decide how to take the organisation forward. The European Parliament is set to formally endorse the move next week.

"The need for secure networks, systems and services will certainly not suddenly disappear in 2012," says ENISA's executive director, Andrea Pirotti. "Network and information security touches business and the daily lives of citizens in Europe. It consequently needs constant reinforcement to keep up with the evolving threats landscape."

With an annual budget of 8 million euros and fewer than 50 staff, ENISA had no remit or resources to deal with cyber attacks like that experienced by Estonia last year, when the Baltic state accused Russia of causing government websites to crash.