Spotlight on EU cybersecurity – Projects shielding the EU from cyber threats

The physical and digital worlds are increasingly interconnected, with the boundary between these becoming more blurred in recent years. As we move into an era of deep digital transformation, significant opportunities arise, yet new challenges also emerge in the shape of cyber threats. 

From essential services such as healthcare or energy grids to everyday devices like our smartphones, much of what we use and rely on daily is digitally connected, and therefore potentially vulnerable to cyber threats that include phishing, malware, spyware, data breaches, network disruptions or surveillance. 

Considering the rising number of sophisticated cyber attacks, the EU is taking action by leading efforts towards secure digitalisation, working to ensure that the products and services used by EU citizens, as well as critical infrastructure, remain cyber secure. 

“Cybersecurity threats are not just technical challenges. They are strategic risks to our democracy, economy, and way of life.” 

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy 

In line with this objective, in 2020 the European Commission presented the EU Cybersecurity Strategy with the aim of strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity resilience so that citizens, businesses and society as a whole can benefit from trustworthy digital technologies. 

More recently, in January 2026, the Commission proposed a new cybersecurity package to further increase the EU’s security against cyber threats. Subject to approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the package proposes a revision of the 2019 Cybersecurity Act, which sets the framework for an EU-wide cybersecurity certification of digital products, services and processes. The revision aims to: 

• Enhance the security of the EU’s information and communication technologies supply chains, reducing the risk of cybersecurity concerns from third-country suppliers;
• Make sure that products reaching the EU are tested for security in a more efficient way by simplifying procedures and clarifying rules. 

Supporting these actions at the EU policy level, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) is managing EU-funded projects that are further enhancing the Union’s capabilities to be protected against cyber threats. 

Enhancing cybersecurity skills 

The current deep digital transformation demands a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce. To fill this gap, CyberSecPro offers cutting-edge education and training materials to advance competencies and professionalism in EU cybersecurity in a wide range of sectors. 

Funded under the Digital Europe Programme, the project aims to significantly enhance Europe’s cybersecurity resilience by empowering the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. 

With 15 higher education institutions and 13 companies from 16 countries on board, CyberSecPro is focused on: 

• Providing analysis of the EU cybersecurity market to meet the cybersecurity needs of individuals and organisations;
• Organising events to spread the project’s knowledge and results;
• Offering education and training materials;
• Developing a certification scheme to recognise and uphold cybersecurity competencies. 

The project applies the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF), an open European tool establishing a common understanding of cybersecurity professional role profiles, skills and competences, and is embedded in cybersecurity networks and bodies including ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. This work is further supported by CyberSecPro’s report on cybersecurity practical skills gaps in Europe, which builds on the ECSF to identify priority competences and training needs. 

Securing digital communications through space 

Space offers unique opportunities to ensure secure digital communications and the QUDICE (Quantum Devices and subsystems for Communications in SpacE) project is proof of it.  

Funded under the Horizon Europe Cluster: 4 Space programme, QUDICE has contributed to bolstering secure communications via satellites by using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a method of sharing a secret encryption key using quantum mechanics. 

As a result, the project has developed critical components for space-based QKD, successfully contributing to strengthening the EU’s independence and competitiveness in the space industry while supporting secure and affordable satellite communications services.  

Boosting secure and fast local connectivity 

Moving the focus from space to our cities, C CHARTRES 5G stands as a pioneering project that aims to deploy private, secure and high-performance 5G infrastructure in seven municipalities in the Chartres metropolitan area (France). 

Receiving funding from Connecting Europe Facility: Digital, the project aims to support local authorities and businesses in boosting local connectivity while reducing exposure to cyber threats and preventing unauthorised access to sensitive data. 

Back in September 2025, C CHARTRES 5G carried out a live demonstration in an air show event by deploying a temporary private 5G “security bubble.” The installation made it possible to test critical communications with the organising team, ensuring the correct functioning of the video surveillance set-up and access ticketing system. Overall, the live demonstration guaranteed data privacy and security throughout the event. 

Strengthening cybersecurity in healthcare  

In the same way that medicine protects our bodies from physical threats, cybersecurity protects healthcare systems from cyber threats, contributing also to safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of patients.  

This is particularly relevant in today’s technology-driven world, given the growing presence of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), formed by connected medical devices and applications that collect, analyse and transfer healthcare data digitally. 

The security of these devices is crucial to keep health data safe, ensure that hospitals can operate smoothly, build trust in technologies used in healthcare and ultimately protect patients. 

Funded under the Horizon Europe ‘Health’ programme, the CYLCOMED (Cyber securitY tooLbox for COnnected MEdical Devices) project has developed innovative solutions to strengthen the cybersecurity of connected medical devices and safeguard the availability, confidentiality, privacy and integrity of sensitive health data.  

Among its key actions, CYLCOMED has focused on providing tailored training to manufacturers and healthcare providers to detect and mitigate security risks effectively. 

At the heart of the project lies the so-called CYLCOMED toolbox. Validated in both simulated and real hospital settings, the toolbox includes a comprehensive set of AI-driven tools linked to data protection, identity management, access control and advanced threat detention.   

Discover more HaDEA-managed projects building synergies to achieve the EU’s strategic objectives: 

• Spotlight on: EU Preparedness – Projects reinforcing Europe’s resilience in a changing world - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) 

Learn more about HaDEA-managed EU funding programmes: 

• Connecting Europe Facility - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
• Digital Europe Programme - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
• EU4Health - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
• Horizon Europe - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)