BETA


2020/2256(INI) State of EU cyber defence capabilities

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET PAET Urmas (icon: Renew Renew) JUKNEVIČIENĖ Rasa (icon: EPP EPP), OLEKAS Juozas (icon: S&D S&D), GREGOROVÁ Markéta (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), BONFRISCO Anna (icon: ID ID), KANKO Assita (icon: ECR ECR), WALLACE Mick (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2021/10/07
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 591 votes to 65, with 26 abstentions, a resolution on the state of EU cyber defence capabilities.

State of EU cyber defence capabilities

Members stressed that a common cyber defence policy and increased cooperation at EU level aimed at developing common and improved cyber defence capabilities are essential elements in building a stronger European Defence Union. The borderless nature of cyber space, as well as the substantial number and increasing complexity of cyberattacks, require a coordinated Union-level response , including common Member State support capabilities and Member State support for measures in the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox.

Parliament called on the EEAS and the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to further develop a comprehensive set of measures and a coherent policy on cyber security to enhance resilience, but also coordination on cyber defence.

It called for enhanced cooperation with the EU’s civilian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-EU) to protect networks used by all EU institutions, bodies and agencies.

Noting the 2018 Cyber Defence Policy Framework’s (CDPF) objective to setup an EU Military CERT-Network, Members called on the Member States to significantly increase classified information sharing capacities in order to facilitate information sharing where needed and useful, and to develop a European rapid and secure network to detect, asses and counter cyberattacks. They underlined the need to invest in cyber defence and cyber capabilities to strengthen the resilience and strategic capabilities of the Union and its Member States.

Strategic vision - Achieving cyber defence resilience

Parliament stressed that it was essential to overcome the current fragmentation and complexity of the overall cyber architecture within the EU and to define a common vision on how to ensure security and stability in cyberspace. It called for the creation of a joint cyber security unit to enhance cooperation and address the lack of information sharing between EU institutions, bodies and agencies.

Given that cyber defence capabilities often have a dual (civilian and military) dimension, Members recalled that technological innovation was mainly driven by private companies and that, therefore, cooperation with the private sector and civilian stakeholders should be strengthened.

Parliament also noted that, unlike other military fields, the infrastructure used to ‘create’ cyberspace is mainly in the hands of commercial entities established mostly outside the EU, which leads to industrial and technological dependence on third parties. The EU should therefore strengthen its technological sovereignty and stimulate innovation by investing in the ethical use of new security and defence technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

To overcome paralysis in the face of hybrid threats, Members considered that the EU should seek a legal solution that would provide for a right to collective defence and allow for the adoption of collective countermeasures by EU Member States on a voluntary basis.

Strengthening partnerships and the EU's role in the international context

In view of the systematically aggressive behaviour of China, Russia and North Korea in cyberspace and the numerous cyber-attacks against public institutions and private companies, Members believe that the EU and NATO should coordinate in areas where hostile actors threaten Euro-Atlantic security interests.

In particular, Members recommended:

- closer cooperation between the EU and NATO , especially on cyber defence interoperability requirements;

- better coordination on cyber defence between Member States, EU institutions, NATO Allies, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In this context, they encouraged the further promotion of OSCE confidence-building measures in cyberspace;

- the development of a strong cyber partnership with the United Kingdom, which is at the forefront of the cyber defence arsenal. The Commission is invited to explore the possibility of re-launching a process aimed at establishing a formal and structured framework for future co-operation in this field.

All Member States and the EU are invited to play a leading role in discussions and initiatives under the auspices of the United Nations, including by proposing an action plan, and promoting responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

Documents
2021/10/05
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2021/07/16
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2021/07/16
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2021/07/01
   EP - Vote in committee
2021/04/28
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2021/03/22
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/12/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2020/11/03
   EP - PAET Urmas (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Votes

État des capacités de cyberdéfense de l’Union - State of EU cyber defence capabilities - Stand der Fähigkeiten der EU im Bereich der Cyberabwehr - A9-0234/2021 - Urmas Paet - Après le considérant I - Am 1 #

2021/10/06 Outcome: +: 564, -: 71, 0: 53
DE PL IT ES RO FR NL BG CZ HU BE PT AT SK SE EL FI DK LT HR LV SI MT LU EE IE CY
Total
91
52
75
57
32
79
29
17
21
17
21
21
19
14
20
21
14
14
9
11
8
8
6
6
7
13
6
icon: PPE PPE
174

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2
icon: S&D S&D
139

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Hungary S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
98

Italy Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
3

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
69

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

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2

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1

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1

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1

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2
icon: ECR ECR
63

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

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1

Netherlands ECR

4

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2

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1
3

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1

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1

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1

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2
icon: NI NI
36

Germany NI

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39

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A9-0234/2021 - Urmas Paet - Considérant N - Am 2 #

2021/10/06 Outcome: +: 556, -: 73, 0: 56
DE IT FR ES RO NL SE BE PT AT CZ FI BG DK SK IE EL LV SI LT HR LU EE MT CY PL HU
Total
91
74
79
57
32
29
20
21
19
19
21
14
17
14
14
13
21
8
8
9
11
6
7
6
6
52
17
icon: PPE PPE
173

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
2

Hungary PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
139

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
4

Cyprus S&D

2

Hungary S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
98

Italy Renew

2
3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
69

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

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1
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37

Netherlands The Left

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4

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36

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1

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63

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État des capacités de cyberdéfense de l’Union - State of EU cyber defence capabilities - Stand der Fähigkeiten der EU im Bereich der Cyberabwehr - A9-0234/2021 - Urmas Paet - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) #

2021/10/06 Outcome: +: 591, -: 65, 0: 26
DE IT PL ES RO NL FR BG HU BE AT CZ SE PT DK FI SK EL HR LT LV SI LU EE MT CY IE
Total
86
74
52
59
32
29
78
17
17
21
19
21
20
21
14
14
14
20
12
9
8
8
6
7
6
6
12
icon: PPE PPE
173

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
2
icon: S&D S&D
139

Hungary S&D

For (1)

1

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
4

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
96

Italy Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
3

Finland Renew

3

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

1

Latvia Renew

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1

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
68

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

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1

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For (1)

1

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2
icon: ECR ECR
63

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Greece ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: NI NI
34

Germany NI

1

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1

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2

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3

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: ID ID
70

Netherlands ID

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1

Austria ID

3

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2

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1

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2

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1
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39

Netherlands The Left

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4
AmendmentsDossier
257 2020/2256(INI)
2021/04/28 AFET 257 amendments...
source: 691.415

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/2
date
2021-07-16T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0234_EN.html title: A9-0234/2021
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
events/2/summary
  • The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Urmas PAET (Renew, EE) on the state of EU cyber defence capabilities.
  • The report stressed that a common cyber defence policy and increased cooperation at EU level aimed at developing common and improved cyber defence capabilities are essential elements in building a stronger European Defence Union.
  • According to Members, the borderless nature of cyber space, as well as the substantial number and increasing complexity of cyberattacks, require a coordinated Union-level response, including common Member State support capabilities and Member State support for measures in the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox, as well as intensified EU-NATO cooperation based on information sharing between cyber crisis response teams, the exchange of best practices, enhanced training, research and exercises.
  • The report called on the EEAS and the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to further develop a comprehensive set of measures and a coherent policy on cyber security in order to enhance resilience, but also coordination on cyber defence. It called on Member States to significantly increase classified information sharing capacities in order to facilitate information sharing where needed and useful, and to develop a European rapid and secure network to detect, asses and counter cyberattacks.
  • Strategic Vision - Achieving Cyber Defence Resilience
  • The report stressed that it is essential to overcome the current fragmentation and complexity of the overall cyber architecture within the EU and to develop a common vision of how to achieve security and stability in cyberspace.
  • Members recommended, inter alia :
  • - increasing financial and cyber defence personnel resources , in particular cyber intelligence analysts and experts in cyber forensics, and their training in the areas of decision and policy making, policy implementation, cyber incident response and investigations, including the development of cyber skills;
  • - increase funding for CERT-EU (Computer Emergency Response Team) and the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN) and support for Member States in establishing and strengthening security operation centres (SOCs) in order to build a network of SOCs across the EU;
  • - promote partnerships with academia aimed at fostering cybersecurity R&D programmes in order to develop new common technologies, tools and skills applicable in both the civilian and the defence sectors;
  • - raise public awareness and improve citizens' skills to defend themselves against cyber-attacks.
  • The report called for the creation of a joint cyber unit to strengthen cooperation and address the lack of information sharing between EU institutions, bodies and agencies. It called for a ‘ European Digital Sovereignty ’ programme to strengthen existing capabilities in cyber tools and encryption, based on European fundamental rights, with the aim of improving Europe's competitiveness in the cyber security market and boosting internal demand.
  • To overcome paralysis in the face of hybrid threats , Members considered that the EU should seek a legal solution that would provide for a right to collective defence and allow for the adoption of collective countermeasures by EU Member States on a voluntary basis.
  • Strengthening partnerships and the EU's role in the international context
  • In view of the systematically aggressive behaviour of China, Russia and North Korea in cyberspace and the numerous cyber-attacks against public institutions and private companies, Members believe that the EU and NATO should coordinate in areas where hostile actors threaten Euro-Atlantic security interests.
  • According to the report, EU-NATO cooperation should focus on issues in the areas of cyber, hybrid threats, emerging and disruptive technologies, space, arms control and non-proliferation. Members called for EU-NATO cooperation to ensure resilient, affordable and secure broadband networks that meet European and national security standards and enable secure national and international information networks capable of encrypting sensitive data and communications.
  • In particular, Members recommended:
  • - closer cooperation between the EU and NATO , especially on cyber defence interoperability requirements;
  • - better coordination on cyber defence between Member States, EU institutions, NATO Allies, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In this context, they encouraged the further promotion of OSCE confidence-building measures in cyberspace;
  • - the development of a strong cyber partnership with the United Kingdom , which is at the forefront of the cyber defence arsenal. The Commission is invited to explore the possibility of re-launching a process aimed at establishing a formal and structured framework for future co-operation in this field.
  • All Member States and the EU are invited to play a leading role in discussions and initiatives under the auspices of the United Nations, including by proposing an action plan, and promoting responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.