MEPs discuss the EU’s cybersecurity defence policy and how to make its military and civilian strands more resilient. Statement by Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), extracts from the debate (05/10) and result of the vote (06/10).

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

vote

fight against cyber attacks (T)

LØKKEGAARD, Morten (Renew, DK)

PAET, Urmas (Renew, EE)

URPILAINEN, Jutta (FI, EC)

OLEKAS, Juozas (S&D, LT)

State of EU cyber defence capabilities: statement by Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), extracts from the debate (05/10) and result of the vote

SOUNDBITE (English), Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Rapporteur, If the EU wants to be seen at the forefront of digital ambitions, it must increase its technological superiority and innovation, as well as be ready to raise the level of its cybersecurity common cyber defence policy and increased cooperation at EU level aimed at developing common and improved cyber defence capabilities are essential elements in building a stronger European Defence Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, To protect cyberspace, we need to modernise our capabilities, advance research, training and exercise, and increase efforts to prevent, deter and respond to cyber attacks. d

SOUNDBITE (English), Juozas OLEKAS (S&amp;D, LT), Cyber defence shall be one of the main priorities in the European Defence Industrial Development Programme and for European Defence Fund. In the cyber defence field. Know-how is the most important tool. Therefore, we should invest more in the cyber defence trainings for the EU military and civil personnel.

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Morten LOKKEGAARD (Renew Europe, DK), We need new tools to tackle cyber threats. The EU needs to be able to adopt joint sanctions. Some colleagues have said we need sanctions from member states, but we also need to have common sanctions when the member states are repeatedly exposed to threats from hacker groups and some countries. And we've got to be able to stand together. And I think we can all agree that in cyberspace as well, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder.

SOUNDBITE (Lithuanian), Juozas OLEKAS (S&amp;D, LT), It is very important to establish a better information sharing amongst the EU member states and the better cooperation with Like-Minded International Partners in order to reduce fragmentation and duplication. We need new tools to tackle cyber threats. The EU needs to be able to adopt joint sanctions. Some colleagues have said that we need sanctions from different member states, but we also need to have common sanctions when the member states are repeatedly. Exposed to threats from hacker groups and some countries. And we've got to be able to stand together. And I think we can all agree that in cyberspace as well, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder. We will keep working together on cyber defence in order to build EU resilience to Cyprus, a cyber attack, provide for better defence capabilities and work to enhance the EU's ability to prevent, deter and respond to cyber attacks through our cyber security tool box, including sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, We will keep working together on cyber defence in order to build EU resilience to Cyprus, a cyber attack, provide for better defence capabilities and work to enhance the EU's ability to prevent, deter and respond to cyber attacks through our cyber security tool box including sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Rapporteur, The EU is rather well prepared, but it does not mean that we should not do anything anything else because if you look what's going on in the world and unfortunately with every, basically with every week, there are more and more cyber attacks so that it means that also in the EU, we have to implement all of what we have in this regard. It means that full cooperation between the member states also, I guess it's simply wise that the European Union as such, has here certain and very clear responsibilities because this is an international problem. And it means that also the answer should be international so that it's simply wise that the member states and also European institutions make here full cooperation so that we can be even better prepared for the future in this regard.

SOUNDBITE (English), Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Rapporteur, If you look at cyber attacks as such, which I see is actually the most dangerous element of all this cyber defence world, then still, these kind of attacks actually are mainly coming from hostile countries where also our political relations are tense. For example, be it Russia, be it China, even North Korea. And then what to do? It means that we need more resources. We need a clear position for cyber defence in the frame of the European Defence Union. We need more and clearer political willingness from member states because this will be and this is the basis of cooperation in any field of defence, including cyber defence. And of course, we need skilled people because without the skills, without skilled people, you can have a lot of money. But well, it's it's not this what in final end we need.

SOUNDBITE (English), Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Rapporteur, One element is cooperation. It is the EU's cooperation with NATO so that we can complement each other and not duplicate. It's also cooperation with third democratic countries be it, for example, Asian democracies, be it Australia and New Zealand, other democracies to also use their knowledge and expertise. And finally, of course, also here in Europe, we should simply teach more young people in our universities, in our military academies who are really specialised for cyber defence issues.

Vote with sign showing results:591 in favour, 65 against, 26 abstentions, 2 shots