- Urgent need for a common approach to cyber security and trust
-Skills development and enhanced cooperation between Member States is crucial
The Deputy Minister of State for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Mr. Kyriakos Kokkinos represented Cyprus at the Informal Meeting of Telecommunications Ministers, held under the French Presidency on 8 and 9 March 2022 in Paris and Nevers, France.
In the context of the Summit, the need to build a strong cybersecurity ecosystem in Europe that ensures the protection and resilience of electronic communications networks and infrastructure, as well as the readiness to collectively and effectively respond to large-scale cyber-attacks, while supporting the development and deployment of innovative solutions and technologies, was discussed. In addition, the need to reassess any geopolitical dependencies of European broadband networks was noted, in the light of both the Ukrainian and the wider instability and uncertainty in the global geopolitical environment. Deputy Minister pointed out that cybersecurity is a global concern, more relevant than ever, adding that it is our duty to shape a modern and secure environment of information and network infrastructures, networks and services that safeguards the fundamental rights of citizens and allows them to derive maximum benefits from the digital economy. He stressed the urgent need to strengthen the existing European protection and coordination framework (CSIRT-Network and CyCLONE), while giving impetus to the completion and rapid implementation of the new legislative framework, and stressed the importance of facilitating the exchange of information - in real time - between Member States, as well as the establishment of a mechanism for immediate technical support in cases of large-scale incidents and crises. Finally, he referred to the importance of developing skills, education and promoting professionalism in the cybersecurity sector in order to strengthen the EU's capabilities and respond more effectively to the ever-growing and evolving needs and challenges.
At a subsequent working lunch, the Ministers exchanged views on the issues of hybrid threats, misinformation and manipulation of information on the Internet, in particular at critical times and situations such as the current one, stressing the need for a common approach to mitigate these phenomena and to address their multiple negative consequences for the EU economy and society.
In the context of the Summit, the French Presidency informed that it intends to coordinate the European effort to supply the Ukrainian Government with technological equipment, through donations from Member States and IT companies, while Member States co-signed two Joint Calls ("Joint Call to reinforce the EU's cybersecurity capabilities" and "Joint Call by EU Ministers responsible for digital and electronic communications to the digital sector") - an initiative of the French Presidency - stating on the one hand their intention for joint action to strengthen cybersecurity in the Union and on the other hand, on the other hand, condemning Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military attack on Ukraine and calling on information and communication companies to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the reliability and security of their services.
Finally, the Ministerial Declaration on "Women in Entrepreneurship and Innovation" was adopted, which aims to raise awareness and formulate common solutions to promote an open, fair and inclusive innovation and technology ecosystem in Europe, with equal and gender-neutral representation and access to investment and funding.
(MB/IC)
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