The Digital Europe Programme is designed to help the EU establish a high standard of cybersecurity across its member states. As services increasingly shift online, ensuring robust cybersecurity is essential to protect against malicious cyber activities that could disrupt economies and daily life.

Cybersecurity not only protects but also presents an economic opportunity, with the global market for related products and services growing by 15-20% annually. It's also vital for Europe to maintain digital sovereignty.

The Digital Europe Programme aims to enhance cybersecurity levels across the EU, aligning with the EU’s Cybersecurity Strategy. This programme is an investment initiative to establish a values-based technology framework in Europe, covering areas like GDPR, the NIS Directive, artificial intelligence, and the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts.

It will fund the development of European cybersecurity infrastructures, creating a 'cyber shield' and encouraging the widespread adoption of cutting-edge cybersecurity practices and technologies. This effort is crucial for the EU's digital sovereignty, ensuring the security and resilience of data infrastructure, networks, and communications.

The programme’s cybersecurity aspect will be overseen by the upcoming European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre in Bucharest. This centre will collaborate with a Network of National Coordination Centres, jointly managing cybersecurity investments from the EU, member states, and the industry.

Operational Goals

The regulation for the Digital Europe Programme outlines several operational objectives:

  • Enhancing advanced cybersecurity equipment, tools, and data infrastructure in partnership with member states.
  • Improving cybersecurity knowledge, capacity, skills, and best practices.
  • Promoting the widespread adoption of advanced cybersecurity solutions, particularly for public authorities and SMEs.
  • Supporting the capabilities of member states and the private sector in line with the NIS Directive.
  • Building resilience and basic levels of cybersecurity awareness.
  • Increasing synergies and coordination between civilian and defense sectors in cybersecurity through knowledge exchange and best practices.