On March 22, 2021, the European Council adopted conclusions on the European cybersecurity strategy in their Draft Council conclusions on the EU’s Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade, which was presented by the European Commission. The Council’s aim is to create a framework that will: protect citizens and businesses from cyber threats, secure information systems and cyberspace, create strategic autonomy and an open economy, all of which will conceivably establish “a resilient, green and digital Europe.” Further, the Council urges the Commission and the High Representative to institute a detailed implementation plan.

Some of the Council’s action items include:

• the plans to create a network of security operation centres across the EU to monitor and anticipate signals of attacks on networks
• the definition of a joint cyber unit which would provide clear focus to the EU's cybersecurity crisis management framework
• its strong commitment to applying and swiftly completing the implementation of the EU 5G toolbox measures and to continuing efforts made to guarantee the security of 5G networks and the development of future network generations
• the need for a joint effort to accelerate the uptake of key internet security standards, as they are instrumental to increase the overall level of security and openness of the global internet while increasing the competitiveness of the EU industry
• the need to support the development of strong encryption as a means of protecting fundamental rights and digital security, while at the same time ensuring the ability of law enforcement and judicial authorities to exercise their powers both online and offline
• increasing the effectiveness and the efficiency of the cyber diplomacy toolbox giving special attention to preventing and countering cyberattacks with systemic effects that might affect supply chains, critical infrastructure and essential services, democratic institutions and processes and undermine economic security
• the proposal on the possible establishment of a cyber intelligence working group to strengthen EU INTCEN's dedicated capacity in this domain
• the importance of strengthening cooperation with international organisations and partner countries in order to advance the shared understanding of the cyber threat landscape
• the proposal to develop an EU external cyber capacity building agenda to increase cyber resilience and capacities worldwide

More information on the Council's adopted conclusions on cybersecurity can be found here.