The Joint Communication underlines the strong internal-external nexus on cybersecurity and balances both technological sovereignty and the need for international cooperation at the same time. The new Cybersecurity Strategy covers five policy domains with over 20 concrete proposals that contribute to a stronger Europe in cyberspace, including:

• Enhancing international security to contribute to responsible state behaviour in cyberspace;
• Strengthening the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox to prevent, deter and respond to cyber-attacks;
• Stepping up cyber defence coordination and cooperation and building cyber defence capabilities;
• Strengthening and expanding international partnerships and exchanges with international organisations, partner countries, and civil society, academia and private sector;
• Increasing the scope, scale, effectiveness and efficiency of EU external cyber capacity building.

Starting from the 2013 EU Cybersecurity strategy, the EU has developed a coherent and holistic international cyber policy. Working with its partners at bilateral, regional and international level, the EU has promoted a global, open, stable and secure cyberspace guided by EU’s core values and grounded in the rule of law.

Furthermore, the EU has supported third countries in increasing their cyber resilience and ability to tackle cybercrime, and has used its 2017 EU cyber diplomacy toolbox to further contribute to international security and stability in cyberspace, including by listing 8 individuals and 4 entities and bodies under its 2019 horizontal cyber sanctions regime.

The EU has made significant progress also on cyber defence cooperation, including as regards cyber defence capabilities, notably in the framework of its Cyber Defence Policy Framework (CDPF), as well as in the context of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the work of the European Defence Agency.

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Cybersecurity: EU External Action - Factsheet

2013 European Cyber Security Strategy

2014 EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline

2014 Council Conclusions on Internet Governance (also annexed to the Cyber Diplomacy CC)

2015 Council Conclusions on Cyber Diplomacy

2017 Joint Communication on Cyber Security Strategy

2017 FAC Conclusions on Cyber Diplomacy toolbox

2018 EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework (2018 update)

2019 EU Horizontal Cyber Sanctions Regime