On 4-5 November 2024, the EU Cyber Direct – EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative and the European University Institute (EUI) organised the annual retreat at the EUI in Florence, Italy.
As cyberspace has become a crucial element reshaping global dynamics, the European Cyber Diplomacy Dialogue 2024 offers a critical platform for discussing the future of cyberspace governance and strategies to reinforce a value-grounded European approach to cyber. The conference gathered policymakers, diplomats and experts, focusing on aligning the EU’s cyber diplomacy efforts with broader foreign policy objectives. It operates under an overarching framework that seeks to bridge global negotiations with internal integration, ensuring a cohesive and proactive approach to cyber diplomacy.
The conference emphasized the need for internal coordination within the EU and its Member States breaking down silos to embed cyber considerations into its broader foreign and security policy frameworks. By treating cyberspace as a core element of statecraft, the EU can better align its cyber strategies with its geopolitical objectives.
Key discussions addressed the EU’s role in shaping norms on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace within the UN framework, structural challenges posed by emerging technologies, and fostering responsible innovation.
