An EU Global Strategy for foreign and security policy will determine foreign and security policy priorities, objectives, and instruments in the medium and long term. According to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice-President of the Commission Frederica Mogherini, security and defence will be part of each chapter of the strategy. Cyber security, as a key dimension of security in general, is crucial to both the Union’s internal and external policies as well as the development of a digital society and economy.
The EU’s goals in the cyber sphere are an open and secure cyberspace, human rights and the rule of law online, a free and open internet, as well as a digital economy and the use of ICT for development. How can Europe through its external action become an influential cyber security player globally? How can Europe’s interests and values best be protected on the internet? How to make cyber security policy a mainstream element in EU internal and external policies?
The conference on the EU’s external action in regard to the cyber sphere features key stakeholders from the EU and member state institutions, the private sector and academia. The event will address the challenges and opportunities the EU faces in relation to cyber security in an increasingly connected, contested and complex world for the next 6–8 years.
Michel Rademaker is one of the speakers at the session III EU Cyber Security Strategy and the Digital Single Market.