Common Security and Defence Policy and Cyber
Defence
Dr. Dunja DUIĆ 1
a
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Abstract. This paper will assess the definition and the role of the CSDP in the EU cyber defence policies. The
focus on cyber defence in the area of CSDP is not meant to render other cyberspace policies of the EU less relevant.
Purely for the purpose of this book, the paper focuses on the military aspect of the EU cyber defence. The second
part of the paper defines the CSDP, its actors and the EU competence in the field. The third part covers all adopted
EU policies related to cybersecurity, with a focus on issues related to the CSDP approach to cyber defence.
Keywords. EU, Common Security and Defence Policy, Cyber Defence, Cyber Security
1. Introduction
Cyber security is among the major issues of the modern world. Today all of us are online. The interconnectivity
online grows constantly – never before has it been so simple to interact online on a global level. Without any
doubt, cyber security is a concern for each individual, each country and nonetheless the European Union (EU).
For the EU, cyberspace is an element of the Digital Single Market. Moreover, in the globally changing world,
typical interior policy areas, such as cyber security, migration or terrorism issues, are becoming fields of action
for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) belongs to the CFSP. The CFSP – which used to be a purely
political area – is being increasingly engaged in military issues. In recent years, cyber defence has become part of
both of the CSDP defence issues and the EU internal security issues.
This paper will assess the definition and the role of the CSDP in the EU cyber defence policies. The focus on
cyber defence in the area of CSDP is not meant to render other cyberspace policies of the EU less relevant. Purely
for the purpose of this book, the paper focuses on the military aspect of the EU cyber defence. The second part of
the paper defines the CSDP, its actors and the EU competence in the field. The third part covers all adopted EU
policies related to cybersecurity, with a focus on issues related to the CSDP approach to cyber defence.
1
Dunja Duić, PhD, LLM (Ghent) is Assistant Professor and Chair holder at the Department Constitutional and European Law, Faculty
of Law J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, E-mail: dduic@[Link]