MAIN APPROACHES AND DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN UNION CYBER SECURITY POLICY

Abstract

The implementation of digital technologies into all spheres of society's life, along with many advantages, has caused the emergence of new security challenges, the response to which requires flexible, innovative and complex approaches, a quick and coordinated reaction, and the consolidation of efforts of many stakeholders. In recent years, significant results in the development and realization of cybersecurity policy have been achieved by the European Union, which, thanks to the combination of institutional capabilities at the community level, efforts of member states, cooperation with business and international partners, is already implementing a number of coordinated initiatives in the field of cybersecurity. The experience of the EU in solving the problems of safe digital development can be a benchmark for other states, including Ukraine.

The article examines the development of the main approaches and directions of the EU cyber security policy from the end of the 90s of the 20th century to the present day. It has been established that since the beginning of the 2000s, the European Commission outlined a common approach to the EU cyber security policy, which provided for the further implementation of measures related to: justification of the policy and improvement of the legal framework; creation of a European warning and information system; supporting and investing in cyber security technological solutions; increasing digital awareness; introduction of market oriented standardization and certification; ensuring the security of EU institutions and member states; international cooperation in the field of cyber security. The listed directions generally remained relevant during the further development and improvement of EU policy of cyber security.

The study showed that the next stages of the evolution of the EU cyber security policy were related with the adoption of three cyber security strategies of 2013, 2017 and 2020, which reflected the development trends of the digital environment and the need to respond to new cyber security challenges. The analysis of these strategies indicated that the EU cyber security policy was and continues to be aimed at solving three key goals: achieving cyber resilience of the European Community, the state, and organizations in the face of constant cyber threats; ensuring effective cyber resilience; promoting a safe and open global cyberspace.

In order to fulfill the declared goals of the cyber security policy during 2022-2023, the European Commission proposed a number of important initiatives, in particular, to increase the level of cyber security in the EU states; establish common cyber security standards for EU institutions; implement cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; strengthen the EU's capabilities to identify, prepare for and respond to cyber security threats and incidents.

It was established that during the development and implementation of the cyber security policy, the EU faced a number of problems and challenges, including an insufficient level of coordination, support and resource provision; lagging behind the regulatory and legal framework of cyber security from the development of the field; difficulties of cross-border and international cooperation; the need for a proactive approach and policy adaptation to the dynamic cyber environment; necessity to maintain a balance between openness and security, etc.

It has been proven that the cyber security policy of the European Union, which is developing progressively and dynamically, involves the implementation of new approaches and solutions in response to the challenges of the digital environment, is a benchmark for other states, in particular Ukraine.