ANNEX
EU CYBER DEFENCE POLICY FRAMEWORK
Context and Objectives
Cyberspace is often described as the fifth domain of military activity, equally critical to European
Union (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) implementation as the domains of land,
sea, air, and space. The successful implementation of CSDP has been increasingly dependent on the
availability of, and access to, a secure cyberspace. Robust and resilient cyber defence capabilities
are now required to support CSDP structures and CSDP missions and operations.
The European Council Conclusions on CSDP of December 2013 together with the Council
Conclusions on CSDP of November 2013 called for the development of an EU Cyber Defence
Policy Framework, on the basis of a proposal by the High Representative, in cooperation with the
European Commission and the European Defence Agency (EDA).
The objective of this document is to provide a framework to the European Council and Council
conclusions, as well as to the cyber defence aspects of the EU Cybersecurity Strategy 1. The
document identifies priority areas for CSDP cyber defence and clarifies the roles of the different
European actors, whilst fully respecting the respective responsibilities and competences of Union
actors and the Member States as well as the institutional framework of the EU and its autonomy of
decision-making. The implementation process of the EU Cybersecurity strategy has been agreed by
the Friends of the Presidency Group on Cyber Issues.
1
Joint communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of the Regions "Cybersecurity Strategy of the European Union: An Open, Safe and Secure
Cyberspace", of 7 February 2013, and the related General Affairs Council conclusions of 25 June 2013.
15585/14
ANNEX
FP/oza
DG C 2B
2
EN