Foreign ministers of EU member states meeting in Council on Monday 16 April warned that the EU would “continue to bolster its capabilities to address cyber threats”.
In the conclusions it adopted on malicious cyber activity, the Council points out that the EU could take measures within the framework of common foreign and security policy “including restrictive measures that can be used to prevent and respond to malicious cyber activities”. Although cyberspace must come under concerted action by all stakeholders in the sector, the latter must recognise and assume their responsibilities in order to ensure cyberspace is “open, free, secure and stable”, ministers say.
The malicious use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is “unacceptable as it undermines our stability, security and the benefits provided by the Internet and the use of ICTs”, the foreign ministers say on a note of caution, warning against chain reactions.
The Council also considers that the states “should not conduct or knowingly support” ICT activities contrary to their obligations under international law, and should not knowingly allow their territory to be used for malicious activities using ICTs.
Finally, ministers say, the EU is willing to continue working within the relevant international fora on the further development and implementation of “voluntary, non-binding norms, rules and principles for the responsible state behaviour in cyberspace”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)