Today, we take a decisive step forward in strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity resilience. The EU blueprint for cyber crisis management clarifies how member states can detect, respond to, recover and learn from large-scale cybersecurity incidents and cyber crises that could affect the whole EU. The EU blueprint shows our clear commitment to a safer, more resilient and better prepared Europe – an important priority of the Polish presidency.
Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs
Telecom ministers adopted the EU Blueprint for cyber crisis management, which gives guidance for the EU’s response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents or cyber crises.
The recommendation on an EU cyber blueprint is an important guideline for member states to enhance their preparedness, detection capabilities and response to cyber security incidents, while building on the foundations laid by the 2017 cybersecurity blueprint and taking on board important recently adopted legislation such as the NIS2 directive and the cyber solidarity act.
Reliable and resilient connectivity
Ministers approved conclusions on reliable and resilient connectivity. In recent years, European connectivity has been subject to unprecedented challenges. While national security remains a responsibility of the member states, a comprehensive, strategic approach to the development of the European connectivity infrastructure is essential to address those challenges.
The conclusions therefore make an inventory of possible measures to enhance network resilience, such as network type diversification, interoperability, or the role of the single market to mobilise investments. The text puts a strong emphasis on measures related to satellite as well as submarine infrastructure elements.
Satellite connectivity and EU strategic autonomy
Ministers held an exchange of views on satellite connectivity as a building block for strategic autonomy. While the EU’s focus has been primarily on terrestrial infrastructures (e.g. 4G/5G, fibre), technological breakthroughs have reduced costs of building and launching satellites.
During the exchange of views ministers highlighted that satellite connectivity forms a crucial component of the EU’s security architecture and its communication networks, especially as an alternative to terrestrial networks. Ensuring that the EU has its own resilient satellite network is crucial, notably in times of geopolitical uncertainty. Various systems, such as satellites and space systems, submarine cables, fixed networks, and mobile infrastructure, ensure this connectivity and ask for a comprehensive approach.
A predictable regulatory environment is essential to boost innovation and manage spectrum efficiency. Harmonised rules for market access and ensuring a level playing field can boost innovation.
Any other business
Roaming with Ukraine and Moldova (by the European Commission)
The Commission presented the state-of-play of the process of Ukraine and Moldova joining the ‘roam like at home’ (rlah) area, already ensuring that Europeans can call, message and use mobile data anywhere in the EU at no extra cost.
The Commission informed that following the notification of a recently adopted bill by Ukraine, it would soon propose an assessment and proposal that could lead to Ukraine joining the rlah area as from 2026. For Moldova, a similar assessment and proposal could be presented soon as well.
Under ‘other business’, the Polish presidency presented a report on the outcomes of discussions on initiatives it took on the topic of possible regulatory simplification in the digital field.
The report of the presidency aims at presenting the most frequently raised and broadly supported recommendations in the field of regulatory simplification, aiming to provide a representative overview of stakeholder perspectives. It aims at identifying a number of regulatory overlaps and inconsistencies, challenges experienced related to implementing legislation and other challenges experienced by stakeholders.
