News and developments
THE CYBERSECURITY COMPETENCE CENTRE STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE REGULATION ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE EU
One step in this regard is represented by the draft regulation establishing a new EU body - the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (the “Competence Centre”), which has been adopted on April 20, 2021 by the Council of the EU.
[1] More information are available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe_en. [2] More information are available here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme.
Role of the Competence Centre
As it now stands, the draft regulation provides that the Competence Centre’s main mission is to help increase the security of critical network and information systems. In order to fulfil the same, it will perform a dual role:- it will undertake strategic and implementation tasks in cybersecurity industry, technology, and research;
- it will manage cybersecurity-related funding from several Union programmes, particularly from Horizon Europe[1] and the Digital Europe Programme[2].
- the Network of National Coordination Centres (the “Network”) which will consist of state-owned entities with research and technological expertise in cybersecurity; and
- the Cybersecurity Competence Community (the “Community”) which will gather stakeholders that have cybersecurity expertise in various domains.
- facilitate access of the small and medium enterprises, start-ups, associations to knowledge; such access will help the same solve the cybersecurity challenges they face, such as the implementation of the security by design approach;
- facilitate collaboration and the sharing of expertise among all relevant stakeholders, in particular members of the Community, on a regular basis;
- support the adoption and integration of state-of-the-art cybersecurity products, services and processes by public authorities at their request, by demand-side industries and by other users.
Next steps
The draft regulation will be sent to the European Parliament, who has to provide its input on the Council's position within three months and to either:- approve it – case in which the draft regulation will be adopted;
- reject it – case in which the draft regulation will not enter into force and the whole procedure shall end;
- propose amendments and return the proposal to the Council for a second reading.
[1] More information are available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe_en. [2] More information are available here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme.