Two years after the adoption of the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, coinciding with the announcement of the Digital Single Market Strategy of which cybersecurity is an important component, the High-level Conference will provide an overview of the state of play of the implementation of the five main priorities of the Strategy and showcase highlights of its main actions.

The Conference will be an opportunity to explore the way forward regarding the proposal for a Network and Information Security Directive, the EU cybersecurity industrial strategy and the next steps for capacity building for cyber defence and fighting cybercrime.

08:00          Registration and welcome coffee

09:00          Opening and welcome  

Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director General, DG CONNECT, European Commission

                      Keynote speeches

Günther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society

Janis Sarts, Undersecretary of Defence, Latvia

Michal Boni, Member of the European Parliament

Industry Representative – to be confirmed

The EU Cybersecurity strategy – State of play
The EU Cybersecurity strategy (a joint initiative of the European Commission and the High representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) was adopted in February 2013 as a first comprehensive effort in the EU addressing cybersecurity in its multi-faceted nature and covering its various aspects such as resilience, the fight against cybercrime, the industrial dimension, cyber defence and international cooperation. Two years on, a number of initiatives have been undertaken under the Strategy's umbrella.

10:50           Coffee break

11:10             Panel session – The realities of network and information security
Securing  networks and information systems is critical for ensuring the proper functioning of our businesses, infrastructure and administration. This panel will explore the challenges of ensuring cyber resilience, preventing and responding to cyber incidents in governments and the private sector. It will also address legislative developments and opportunities for partnership and cooperation, as well as how best to incentivise higher investments in cybersecurity.     

13:00           Lunch

14:00           Panel session – Making the EU an industrial leader in trustworthy ICT

Creating a single market for trustworthy ICT is of the essence if we are to reap the opportunities that the digital economy has to offer. Successfully linking the demand of the end users (both individual consumers and businesses) and the supply of digital security products and services (including from SMEs) is key to create networked ecosystems to strengthen the industrial competitiveness of all players in the value chain. Aggregation of competences and industrial forces should occur at the European and international level to maximise synergies and cross-fertilisation. The panel will focus on how an upcoming EU industrial strategy can stimulate the take-up and supply of trustworthy ICT solutions in the EU to enhance citizens' trust and foster the digital economy.

15:45            Coffee break

16:00           Keynote speech

Maciej Popowski, Deputy Secretary General, European External Action Service

Panel session - Building Capacity to fight cybercrime and strengthen cybersecurity in the EU and beyond

The evolution of information communication technology, that brings so many benefits, has also led to the development of criminal activity that threatens citizens, businesses, governments and critical infrastructures alike: cybercrime. Governments, Law Enforcement Agencies and Society at large are faced with the challenge of ensuring sufficient and effective training and tools are developed to prevent and combat cybercrime. Law Enforcement Agencies need to be educated on the cyber elements that are of relevance to their work and on the technical capabilities that digital forensics can offer. A lack of up-to-speed cybercrime-fighting in the EU and worldwide can easily be exploited by cyber-criminals, which underlines the need for an integrated EU approach to building capacity and sharing best practice within the EU and beyond, in cooperation with international partners and organisations, the private sector and civil society.

17:30            Interactive session with the audience

                      What was achieved with the EU Cybersecurity Strategy? What are the challenges and the opportunities ahead?

Closing remarks

Paul Timmers, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Security, DG CONNECT, European Commission

18:00           Cocktail reception 

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/high-level-cybersecurity-conference-agenda