VITEX 2016 was the first EU-wide exercise focussed on the effects of large-scale failure of critical (electricity) infrastructure across Europe.

The JRC was invited to participate as an expert in the exercise, which was organised by the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV), as part of their EU Presidency activities. This desk-top exercise lasted two full days and was focused around a scenario of rolling blackouts throughout Europe due to lack of electricity generation caused by adverse meteorological events. The organisers divided the participants into facilitators, players, experts and observers.
The role of the experts was to ensure that the discussions stayed factually in line with the exercise scenario, that the issues that needed to be addressed were thoroughly discussed and, in close collaboration with the facilitators, that the whole procedure was on track. Many Member States participated fully, with government authorities and power distribution organisations being very well represented.