"European security as a horizontal issue" is the main theme of the "Freedom and Security: Europe without Borders" conference to be held in Serock, Poland between April 18 and 20, 2007. The individual concepts that comprise security, such as the physical protection of national borders, information security of the European economy and crisis management, must be considered as a whole.

Therefore, the conference agenda (http://www.computerworld.pl/konferencje/wolnosc2007/agenda.html) is designed to combine the three concepts, interweaving the issues of border protection (including the Schengen Information System, i.e. SIS II and VIS) with those of information security and crisis management.

Thanks to our patrons, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX) and Grzegorz Bliźniuk, government plenipotentiary for the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Visa Information System (VIS), Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, we have the opportunity to discuss the essence of the European border security system with respect to both physical and virtual frontiers. How to protect Europe against illegal immigration, smuggling and terrorism? Should a uniform European Border Guard be established? Is a single customs system necessary? How to protect the borders in cyberspace? What are the changes to the national security doctrines of Poland and other EU member states? These are the issues which will be discussed during the 4^th "Freedom and Security" conference.

PROGRAM COUNCIL:

- Wojciech Dylewski, AFCEA

- Robert Kośla, Deputy Director for the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Visa Information System (VIS), PHARE Cross-Border Cooperation Program Implementing Authority

- Sławomir Kosieliński, Editor, Computerworld

- Józef Orzeł, Deputy Chairman of the Cities on the Internet Association

- Wiesław Paluszyński, Deputy Chairman, Polish Information Processing Society, conference chairman

- Piotr Rutkowski, secretary of the conference Program Council

- Jakub Ryzenko, Polish Space Office

- Krzysztof Silicki, CTO of NASK, Polish representative in the ENISA Management Board

- European border protection system

- Schengen Information System (SIS II) and Visa Information System (VIS)

- European customs service

- National security

- Crisis management

- Information security

- Critical infrastructure protection

- Special-purpose communications systems