The Council says that the new structures aim to help secure the digital single market, including in areas such as e-commerce, smart mobility and the Internet of Things, as well as increase the EU’s autonomy in the area of cyber security. According to the Council, the new Competence Centre, together with the network of national coordination centres designated by Member States, will help the EU to pool its expertise in cyber security research, technology and industrial development, and promote the deployment of the latest cyber security solutions.

The Centre will be located in Bucharest, Romania and will be funded primarily by Horizon Europe and Digital Europe. Together with the network, it will deliver cyber security-related financial support, also from the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes.

The Centre will also bring together the main stakeholders in cyber security competence to enhance and spread cyber security expertise across the EU. The members of this community will include industry, academic research organisations, public entities dealing with operational and technical cyber security matters, and relevant organisations from other sectors facing cyber security challenges.

The Regulation establishing the Centre will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal. The Centre will be established for the period from the entry into force of the Regulation to 31 December 2029. After that it will be wound up, unless its mandate is extended following an evaluation and, potentially, a legislative proposal by the Commission.

The activities of the new European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre will complement the work of the permanent European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).

The provisional agreement between the Council and Parliament is subject to approval by the Council. It will now be submitted to the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) for endorsement. To read the Council’s press release in full, click here.