The European Union Strategy for Cybersecurity

The chapter analyses the 2020 European Union Strategy for Cybersecurity starting from the main differences with the 2013 Strategy and examining then its major contributions. The first one lies in the general framework which moves from the narrow field of security to the broader context of digitalisation. Secondly, from an axiological point of view, the 2020 Strategy introduces the concept of European technological sovereignty. Thirdly, from a functional perspective, in the new Strategy, cybersecurity is conceived as a horizontal or cross-cutting policy. Fourthly, as regards its content, the 2020 Strategy provides an improved balance between technical and non-technical issues as well as greater attention to certain basic technological questions. Finally, by its nature, this Strategy evolves from being an essentially declarative or descriptive policy to become a more operational or executive policy. There is a qualitative improvement compared to its predecessor that could even be considered a paradigm change.