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The European Union has several programs providing financial support to cybersecurity, including actions enhancing technological capabilities for EU governments.

The following programmes have specific actions to achieve a high common level of cybersecurity at the EU level:  

–  The Digital Europe Program aims to make Europe a strategic, secure, and autonomous digital hub by increasing the deployment of cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, underscoring the EU’s Cybersecurity Strategy. It offers calls to build European cybersecurity infrastructures – the ‘cyber shield’ and promotes the widespread deployment and take-up of state-of-the-art cybersecurity practices and equipment. This is crucial to making the EU’s digital sovereignty. 

– Horizon Europe, being the programme dedicated to research and innovation, has a dedicated budget of €15 billion for digital and industry-related projects. The program supports research into cybersecurity technologies, such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Some calls, for example, had the scope to investigate and propose solutions to reinforce cybersecurity using AI technological components and tools in line with relevant EU policy, legal and ethical requirements.

– Other funds like Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) or the European Defence Fund support the development of high-performance digital infrastructure, including secure and resilient communication networks, as well as defence technologies, including those related to cybersecurity and encryption. The latter enables EU governments to collaborate and pool their resources to develop cutting-edge technological capabilities.

These initiatives may enable EU governments to access the necessary funding to strengthen their technological infrastructure and enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. They make collaboration among EU member states possible, encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and support the development of cutting-edge technologies and skilled cybersecurity experts.

The European Commission recognizes cibersecurity as a crucial asset for Europe.
Addressing financial investments and including cybersecurity as a priority of its agenda testify this. These funds and their boost towards developing innovative societies can help Europe to become a significant actor in the international arena. 

Recently, there have been episodes that seemed to recall the need for Europe to act in these fields and to re-establish its reputation. We can think of the latest debate between France and Germany on the concept of the digital sovereignty of the cloud sector, where a shared European vision has yet to be achieved. Another significant episode was the spyware deployed against the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. This event sparked a wave of discussions on the weak position of Europe due to the lack EU rules on who can use spyware, with spyware companies taking advantage of the different regulations, especially in those member states with fewer controls.   

It is very interesting to look at these funding opportunities also as a chance for Europe to foster knowledge, infrastructures, research and innovation as a solid basis for a strategic European role in the cybersecurity field.    

Written by: Cristina Ceccarelli