Germany, which holds the rotating Presidency of the EU Council, is a candidate to host the seat of the future European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, as are Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Romania, Poland and Lithuania. This is what has emerged from the applications submitted to the European Commission on 6 November, in accordance with the selection procedure adopted by the Council of the EU .
For more than two years, the co-legislators have been discussing the modalities of the regulation to establish a centre for the pooling of investment in research, technology and industrial development in the field of cybersecurity (see EUROPE 12095/18, 12437/4). Negotiations are taking place at the technical level twice a week between representatives of the three institutions. At the political level, the last trilogue was held on 29 October, and the next one could be held on 11 December, although this is uncertain at this point.
The main stumbling blocks are the issue of financial contributions from the Member States, which the EU27 are keen to keep voluntary, as well as the possibility of a veto for the Commission on the Governing Board and the appropriateness of an advisory board, which are opposed by the EU Council.
More broadly, the EU Council took responsibility for selecting the seat of the future centre of competence, which the European Commission suggested leaving in Brussels in its initial proposal (see EUROPE 12594/8). Member States had until 6 November to express their interest and, while many of the candidates were already known, Germany’s application came as a surprise.
According to the selection procedure, it is now up to the Commission to report on the various dossiers, in particular on the applicant States’ compliance with the seven criteria identified by the EU Council. The final vote will take place on 9 December on the sidelines of the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I).
The European Parliament’s rapporteur, Rasmus Andresen (Greens/EFA, Germany), will report back to his Industry Committee colleagues on the state of the negotiations on Thursday 12 November. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)