information on threat landscape and situational awareness, as well as relevant policy developments is of common interest, will continue and be expanded. Like-minded partners play an important role maintaining a global, open, stable and secure cyberspace and can complement the EU’s ability to prevent, discourage, deter and respond to malicious behaviour in cyberspace. The EU remains open to a broad, ambitious and mutually beneficial security and defence engagement, including on cyber defence, with all like-minded partners. 4.3. Cyber defence capacity building support for partner countries Global and regional challenges have increased the mutual interdependence of the EU and its partners and highlighted the need to establish closer partnerships on security and defence. This is particularly relevant for the EU candidate countries. Recent large scale cyber-attacks indicate a need for enhanced EU engagement and partnership on cyber security and cyber defence, building on existing programmes. Due to the transnational nature of cyber threats, enhancing the cyber resilience of partner countries, especially those with a lower level of cyber maturity, will contribute towards a safer and more secure cyberspace. Hence, the EU would be better able to prevent, detect, defend against, and deter cyberattacks. The EU will strengthen security and defence cooperation with partner countries to strengthen their cyber resilience, including through existing dialogues. Where applicable and mutually beneficial, the EU will engage with partners, and in particular those EU candidate countries aligned with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy, in their cyber defence capacity building efforts. This could include support to policy and legislative frameworks, training, advising, mentoring and equipping the armed forces and security forces of partners. Member States could decide to provide cyber defence operational assistance to partners. Moreover, the EU will help partners strengthen their capacity to contribute to military CSDP missions and operations, as this is a valuable input to mutual efforts to promote peace and security. The European Peace Facility (EPF) will continue to support EU efforts to help build defence capacities, including cyber defence, in partner countries, in particular in the EU’s neighbourhood, complementing CSDP crisis management efforts. In this regard, when necessary, the EU will also link cyber defence assistance better with civilian cybersecurity capacity building, in particular through the EU Cyber Capacity Building Board. Efficient coordination among the EU’s relevant programmes and instruments, including EPF, and Member States will be necessary for the success of cyber defence and cybersecurity capacitybuilding actions. While providing support to partner countries in their cyber defence capacity-building efforts, the EU will work closely with other donors to develop situational awareness and coordination platforms in order to provide the best possible tailored support and ensure coherence and nonduplication of efforts. Cyber defence actions  Strengthen EU-NATO cooperation in the field of cyber defence training, education, situational awareness and exercises.  Include cyber defence topics in EU-led cyber as well as security and defence dialogues with partner countries. 20