By fostering synergy between policy frameworks, industry standards, and technological innovation, this discussion aims to identify actionable strategies to mitigate cyber threats.

The session will delve into the role of private-public-military cooperation, cross-border cooperation, the integration of advanced cybersecurity tools, and the development of a unified European approach to protecting essential sectors such as energy, healthcare, finance, and transportation.

Potential Discussion Topics

EU Cybersecurity Policies and Frameworks: Overview of CER, CRA and NIS2 Directives and others’ impact on critical infrastructure protection from a cyber perspective.

The European Cybersecurity Competence Center (ECCC), its role and potential actions.

Threat Landscape for Critical Infrastructures: emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities in key sectors, case studies of recent attacks on European infrastructure.

Cross-Border Collaboration: sharing intelligence and resources among EU nations; harmonizing cybersecurity standards across member states.

Technology and Innovation: role of AI and machine learning in threat detection and response; importance of secure-by-design principles in industrial control systems.

Public-Private Partnerships: engaging private companies in enhancing infrastructure resilience, challenges and benefits of joint initiatives between governments and businesses.

Incident Response and Recovery: building robust incident response protocols across borders; enhancing capabilities for swift recovery post-attack.

Workforce and Skills Development: addressing the cybersecurity skills gap in Europe, training and certifications to build a resilient workforce.

Future-Proofing Critical Infrastructure: long-term strategies for adapting to evolving cyber threats; integrating cybersecurity in green and digital transitions.