The role of the EU Cyber Ecosystem in Global Cyber Security Stability, 6-8 July 2021, Cyprus

The ESDC course on the role of the EU Cyber cosystem in global cyber security stability took place in Larnaca, Cyprus, from  6 to 8 July 2021.

The course was co-organised by the Ministry of Defence of Cyprus (MoD/CY) – Cyprus Security & Defence Academy, the Digital Security Authority (DSA) and the National CSIRT of Cyprus, in cooperation with the EU CyberNet project.

The course was inaugurated by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation and Digital Policy, the Commissioner for Communications, and the Head of the European Security and Defence College.

Τhe training course welcomed in both ‘residential’ and ‘virtual’ format , 65 participants from 14 States in the Middle East and,North Africa regions and the EU. The course was hosted on the premises of the ‘ZENON’ Joint Rescue Coordination Centre  in Larnaca.

The aim of the course was to present the main pillars of the EU’s cyber ecosystem, and to explore how these pillars can reinforce global security stability by strengthening cyber resilience, building trust and upscaling cooperation among the actors involved.

This was the second time the course had been held . The first time the course was virtual, taking place in Tallin,,Estonia, last May, and targeting  the Eastern Partnership Countries.  It was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

This course, which is the first of its kind in ESDC’s portfolio,  targeted the Middle East and North Africa region. The course is consistent with the 3^rd Pillar of the EU Cyber Strategy, ‘Advancing a global and open cyberspace’.

The course included presentations and exercises in virtual and residential mode. In particular, two exercises were included. The first exercise was organised by the  Digital Security Authority of Cyprus and the Open University of Cyprus – Cybersecurity & Telecommunications Research Lab. The second exercise was organised by the EU CyberNet project. Both exercises took place in virtual and residential mode.

  Distinguished speakers from the EU Institutions and Agencies (DG HOME, DG NEAR, EEAS, ENISA, EUROPOL, CERT EU, EU ISS), from International Organisations (Council of Europe, EUROCONTROL, HYBRID CoE), the EU CyberNet project and other cyber experts gave a comprehensive presentation of the EU cyber ecosystem.

For the next  iteration, the course will be held in residential format in Thessaloniki, Greece, on September 7-9 focusing on the Western Balkans partners. The course will be co-organised by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and EU Agency ENISA.