Project concept1
Version 9 December 2021
Project title / number
CyberSouth – Cooperation on cybercrime in the Southern Neighbourhood
(2017/DG1/JP/3692):
Region
Project area:
Southern Neighbourhood Region2
Initial priority areas: Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia
Duration:
78 months (June 2017 – December 2023)
Budget:
EURO 5,005,000
Funding:
European Union and Council of Europe
Implementation:
Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) of the Council of Europe
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Societies all over the world increasingly rely on information and communication technologies (ICT) but
with this they are also vulnerable to threats such as cybercrime. Cybercrime – that is offences against
computer systems and by means of computers – affects individuals, institutions and organisations as
well as States. Moreover, evidence in relation to any crime is now often stored on computer systems.
Accessing and securing volatile evidence on computers domestically or on servers in the cloud is a
complex matter.
This is also true for countries of the Southern Neighbourhood. Security, confidence and trust in ICT are
needed to allow these societies to exploit the human development potential of ICT.
Governments increasingly consider cybercrime and cybersecurity matters of national security in
particular in the light of terrorist use of the Internet, transnational organised crime in cyberspace and
reports on attacks and computer intrusions by States or State-backed actors. In some countries, such
threats may trigger repressive measures that in turn may threaten rule of law and human rights
principles. It is necessary, therefore, to reconcile the positive obligation of governments to protect
society and individuals against crime with rule of law, human rights and data protection requirements.
The approach of the Council of Europe on cybercrime addresses this challenge. It is built on the Budapest
Convention on Cybercrime and related instruments, such as Data Protection Convention 108 and others.
Joining the Budapest Convention entails membership in the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY)
and thus cooperation with currently 80 States. Furthermore, the Budapest Convention and the work of
the T-CY is backed up by capacity building programmes.
The Budapest Convention is open for accession by any country ready to implement its provisions and to
engage in cooperation. From among the States of the Southern Neighbourhood, Israel and Morocco are
parties to this treaty. Morocco is a priority country of the GLACY+ joint project of the EU and the Council
1
The present updated following the extension of the project, provided by the European Commission.
2
The following ten countries participate in the European Neighbourhood Policy framework of the European Union: Algeria,
Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine*, Syria and Tunisia
(* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions
of the Member States on this issue)