On Thursday 30 April, the EU and its Member States condemned cyber threats and malicious cyber activities targeting key operators in Member States and their international partners, including in the healthcare sector, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Since the beginning of the pandemic, major phishing and malware distribution campaigns, analysis activities and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have been detected, some affecting critical infrastructure essential to managing this crisis", states the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
For Europe, "any attempt to hamper the ability of critical infrastructures is unacceptable". They therefore call on the perpetrators to immediately refrain from such "irresponsible and destabilising actions, which can put people’s lives at risk".
The EU and its Member States warn that they will further strengthen their cooperation to address cyber threats at technical, operational, judicial and diplomatic levels, including with their international partners.
They also call upon each country to exercise due diligence and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for such activities from its territory, in accordance, inter alia, with international law.
In May 2019, the EU adopted a sanctions regime for cyber attackers, which so far has no listings (see EUROPE 12257/9). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)