Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union - call to promote and conduct responsible behaviour in cyberspace

Source: Council of the European Union (Council) i, published on Friday, February 21 2020.

On 28 October 2019, Georgia was the victim of a targeted cyber-attack causing damage to their social and economic infrastructure. The European Union and its Member States express their concern about the cyber-attack, which showed disregard for security and stability in cyberspace and undermines the development of political, social and economic benefits provided by the Internet and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Today, the European Union and its Member States condemn the cyber-attack and will continue to assist Georgia in increasing its cyber resilience. We are concerned about the increase of irresponsible and destabilising behaviour in cyberspace and will continue to address the challenges that cyberspace poses both internally as well as to our foreign and security policy. The European Union and its Member States call upon the international community to continue to strengthen their cooperation in favour of a global, open, stable, peaceful and secure cyberspace where human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law fully apply.

The European Union and its Member States underline their commitment to continue to promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace through the application of international law, norms of responsible state behaviour, regional confidence building measures and through the EU's framework for a joint diplomatic response to malicious cyber activities. We call upon the international community to continue to contribute to international peace and security by implementing the existing consensus based on the 2010, 2013 and 2015 reports of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts in the field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UNGGE) and to advance cooperation to strengthen this consensus in the United Nations and other appropriate international fora.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Republic of North Macedonia*, Montenegro* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.

*Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process