Given the acceleration of the ‘digital revolution’ and the exponential increase in the number and sophistication of cyberattacks affecting nearly all sectors, reinforcing EU policies and legislation in this area should be an utmost priority for decision-makers across Europe. The Russian invasion of Ukraine further emphasizes the importance of this.

Cyberattacks have become widespread and aim to destabilize countries, targeting critical infrastructure, banking and financial systems, along with military and governmental networks. The Russian army has continued to rely on ‘hybrid warfare’ tactics combining cyberattacks with military action in Ukraine, as had been the case during the incursions into Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014.

To discuss these new risks and challenges linked to cybersecurity, including in relation to the war in Ukraine, and to consider what actions might be taken at the European level, we will welcome Arnault Barichella, Associate Research Fellow in Cybersecurity at the Jacques Delors Institute.