Cyber diplomacy is one of the most dynamic areas of the EU’s foreign and security policy. Since the adoption of the first Cyber Security Strategy in 2013, the EU has developed a quite comprehensive approach to a whole range of international cyber policy issues such as responsible state behaviour, internet governance, cyber capacity building and human rights protection. The adoption of the EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox in 2017 was meant to provide a more joined-up approach across all range of policies but connecting different policies has proven to be more difficult in practice.
At the same time, the international environment has also significantly evolved: with big players like Russia and China becoming even more assertive and the newcomers more demanding from their international partners. The confluence of these elements has proven to be a significant challenge for the EU which on most international processes has adopted a crisis management and damage control mode. Consequently, whether on responsible state behaviour or cybercrime, the EU’s cyber diplomacy has become more reactive than anticipatory.
The aim of the third edition of the European Cyber Diplomacy Dialogue (organised by EU Cyber Direct and the School of Transnational Governance) is to explore the alternatives for the EU's cyber diplomacy by focusing on "who, where and how" in the Eu's external environment and internal processes.
Participation in the event is by invitation only.