The three-day programme assembled over 20 participants, including civilian, military, diplomatic, and law enforcement representatives, as well as experts from EU institutions, NATO, the United Nations, the European Space Agency, and EUAM Ukraine. Participants engaged in knowledge exchange, scenario-based exercises, and discussions aimed at fostering a mutual understanding of how international law governs state behaviour in cyberspace. In alignment with the ESDC’s strategic priorities, remote participation was also facilitated for representatives from Ukrainian institutions.
The course addressed a comprehensive range of legal and policy topics, including state responsibility, due diligence, sovereignty in cyberspace, and the peaceful settlement of cyber disputes. Additional subjects covered legal frameworks pertinent to data protection (GDPR), Big Data, transborder data flows, intermediary liability, and platform regulation. Special emphasis was placed on the human rights implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making. The course was designed to align with Pillar 3 of the EU Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade and supported the ENISA European Cybersecurity Skills Framework role profile for Cyber Legal, Policy, and Compliance Officers.
A central theme throughout the course was the critical need for collective interpretation and implementation of international legal norms in cyberspace. This aligns with the Council of the European Union’s declaration of 18 November 2024, which states: “The European Union and its Member States reaffirm that international law, in particular the UN Charter, international human rights law and international humanitarian law, fully applies to cyberspace.” citeturn0search0 This shared understanding is essential for maintaining peace, security, and the rule of law in the digital domain.
The course was officially opened by Dr. Joanna Kulesza, Course Director from the Lodz Cyber Hub, alongside Fergal O’Regan, Acting Head of the ESDC, and Giuseppe Zuffanti, Coordinator for the ESDC Cyber ETEE platform. Their opening remarks underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation in strengthening Europe’s cyber resilience and shaping a rules-based digital order.
For more information on the ESDC course, see here, and to read the Council's declaration, please visit this link.