A/70/172 Spain [Original: Spanish] [29 May 2015] Spain considers that information and communication technologies provide essential support for all societies worldwide, but their globalization entails serious risks and threats such as cyberespionage, cyberterror ism, “hacktivism” and cyberwarfare. Following the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Council, Spain has continued to make progress in the development of plans derived from the National Cybersecurity Strategy to increase prevention, protection, de tection, analysis, response, recovery and coordination capacities in the face of cyberthreats. Spain continues to participate actively in the promotion of international cooperation and is closely monitoring all strategic initiatives that affect cybersecurity, both in the European Union and in major international forums such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Council of Europe. Spain continues to uphold the importance of the United Nations in the process of achieving international consensus on cybersecurity issues and supports the holding of institutionalized dialogue, which should include other international forums, to promote regional cooperation and the establishment of global standa rds, best practices, rules of conduct among States and confidence -building measures, with the ultimate goal of guaranteeing the peaceful and secure use of information technologies. Spain considers that States should achieve consensus in four areas. First, they should develop confidence-building measures of a cooperative nature with the ultimate goal of promoting transparency among States in the area of cybersecurity and strengthening their capacity to neutralize any possible attacks identified as coming from third countries. Second, Spain considers that States should continue reflecting on how the principles and norms of international law should be interpreted and applied in cyberspace; especially those relating to the threat or use of force, to humanitari an law and to the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. Third, Spain considers that international cooperation should be strengthened by improving channels of communication, establishing mechanisms for the coordination of Computer Emergency Response Teams, carrying out joint exercises and other similar operations, and promoting judicial and police cooperation mechanisms. Finally, capacity-building in countries where it is needed should continue to be encouraged and assistance should be provided to recipient States for the development of national laws establishing cybersecurity standards. The full text of Spain’s submission can be found at http://www.un.org/ disarmament/topics/informationsecurity/. 15-12333 13/14