The joint cyber unit is targeted to begin operations by 30 June 2022
The European Union is planning to establish a joint cyber unit to tackle mass cyber incidents and crises. (Credit: European Commission)
The European Commission (EC) has proposed to create a joint cyber unit in the European Union (EU) for effectively thwarting, deterring, and responding to mass cyber incidents and crises.
According to the Commission, the new unit will bring together the resources and expertise available to the EU and its member countries for fighting large-scale cyber security incidents.
The EU’s executive branch said that cybersecurity communities, which include civilian, diplomatic, law enforcement, and cyber defence communities, and also private sector partners, operate separately too often.
The new joint cyber unit will provide them a virtual and physical platform for cooperation and coordination, knowledge sharing, and also to issue advance warning.
The Commission stated that relevant EU institutions, agencies, and bodies alongside the member states will progressively develop a European platform to offer solidarity and help to combat large-scale cyberattacks.
The proposal to create the joint cyber unit is a major step towards completing the cybersecurity crisis management framework for Europe, said the Commission.
Through co-ownership with the member states and the various entities active in the cyber security field, the Commission plans to develop the new unit gradually in four steps.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said: “Countering cyberattacks is a growing challenge. The Law Enforcement community across the EU can best face this new threat by coordinating together.
“The Joint Cyber Unit will help police officers in Member States to share expertise. It will help build law enforcement capacity to counter these attacks.”
The European Commission wants the joint cyber unit to begin operations by 30 June 2022. The unit will be fully established by 30 June 2023, said the EU regulator.
For the preparatory phase of the new unit, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) will serve as a secretariat. The new unit will operate close to ENISA’s offices in Brussels and the office of the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU institutions, agencies, and bodies (CERT-EU).
European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said: “Together with our cybersecurity Agency, ENISA, this new network will reinforce the overall European constellation of powers that will allow us to fight back against this threat.
“This is a very operational package. It is a key part of a Europe that protects.”