The Commission of the European Union has adopted a proposal for a Council framework decision that seeks to harmonize the EU's legal response to so-called cybercrimes, including hacking, denial of service attacks and virus dissemination.

The proposal, said EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, "aims to ensure a common minimum level of criminal law in all Member States" and calls for the mandatory introduction of 24-hour contact points in member states to facilitate the exchange of cybercrime information.

It will also seek to encourage the adoption of a minimum sentencing policy, mandating custodial sentences of at least one year for serious offences. The framework proposal must be approved unanimously by the Council of Ministers before it can be passed into legislation.

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