CoESS contributes to OSCE Project PROTECT on critical infrastructure protection
The protection of critical infrastructure is a growing priority across Europe and the wider OSCE area, as terrorist threats continue to target essential services such as energy, transport and communications. In response, the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit launched Project PROTECT in 2023 to strengthen national approaches to protecting vulnerable targets, including critical infrastructure.
A key outcome of the project is the Technical Guide on Physical Security Considerations for Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Attacks, published in 2025.
The Guide brings together practices and experience from across the OSCE region, offering non-binding but structured guidance for policymakers, critical infrastructure owners and operators, and security practitioners. It addresses strategic, legal and operational aspects of protection, while emphasising the importance of public–private partnerships and compliance with human rights frameworks.
CoESS contributed to Project PROTECT through its participation in the Expert Advisory Group, ensuring that the operational expertise and perspective of the European private security sector were reflected in the Guide. Private security providers are explicitly recognised as key actors in protecting critical infrastructure alongside public authorities and operators.
The publication is particularly timely in the context of evolving EU legislation, notably the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive. While non-binding, the Guide provides a valuable reference to anticipate regulatory expectations and align practices with internationally recognised good practice.