In 2024, Belgium took the spotlight with its Presidency of the Council of the EU (January-June), playing a pivotal role in shaping Europe's cybersecurity future. The CCB’s International Relations department was at the helm, driving Belgium’s cybersecurity agenda in close collaboration with the country’s Permanent Representation to the EU. A team member was even seconded to ensure seamless coordination. Under the Presidency theme "Protect, Strengthen, Prepare," Belgium set several key priorities, including on cybersecurity.

A top priority was leading negotiations between the Council, European Parliament, and Commission on two major legislative acts: the Cyber Solidarity Act and the amendment to the Cybersecurity Act. The Cybersecurity Act amendment paves the way for certification schemes for Managed Security Services, vital for implementing NIS2, while the Cyber Solidarity Act establishes the EU Cybersecurity Alert System and a Cyber Reserve enhancing detection, analysis and response capabilities across the Union. Despite challenges, Belgium successfully secured political agreements on both files in record time before the European Parliament’s elections. Belgium also spearheaded discussions on the Council’s representation in the Interinstitutional Cybersecurity Board (IICB), and the CCB represented the Council in the board’s inaugural meetings.

‘Implement and Protect together’, Council Conclusions on the future of cybersecurity

Another key achievement was a comprehensive review and stocktaking of the EU cybersecurity landscape, which led to the adoption of Council Conclusions on the future of cybersecurity, titled ‘Implement and Protect together’. This pivotal document, set to guide EU cybersecurity policy for years to come a shift towards implementation rather than new legislation. It calls for reducing legislative fragmentation, clarifying roles and responsibilities, strengthening collaboration with law enforcement, and enhancing Active Cyber Protection. This vision received unanimous support from all EU Ministers at the Telecom Council on 21 May 2024.

Brussels Cybersecurity Summit

The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium also organized high-profile events such as the Brussels Cybersecurity Summit (18-19 January) and co-sponsored the ENISA Cybersecurity Policy Conference

The Brussels Cybersecurity Summit on 18-19 January 2024 united leading experts, policymakers, and industry trailblazers to delve into the most recent trends, challenges, and solutions in the cybersecurity landscape. This event was streamed live and gathered around 500 policymakers and global experts to discuss the future of cybersecurity in Europe. Throughout the day-and-half of the conference participants had the opportunity to connect with people, exchange ideas, national experience, and practical lessons of the past and insights from the latest research. Such bottom-up analysis provided concrete ways forward for cybersecurity practitioner, as well as for policy makers, including the upcoming European Commission and European Parliament. The summit represented a key interactive bridge-builder that drove European cybersecurity forward, promoting new concepts such as Active Cyber Protection (ACP) and pushing the EU to cross ‘the last mile” to make Europe more cybersecure. Participants to the event had also the opportunity to follow tailored and specific presentations/panel discussions and debates in three different tracks: strategic track; cyber coordination and competence track; and CTI track

Moreover, the CCB had the opportunity to co-sponsor the ENISA Policy Conference, organised in Brussels 17 April. In this context, the CCB had the opportunity to put again on the spotlight Active Cyber Protection. Moreover, the event saw also a keynote delivered by the Secretary of State Mathieu Michel.

Cybersecurity Networks in action

Two cybersecurity weeks were held in Namur and Ghent, featuring regular meetings of networks chaired by CCB during the Presidency: EU-CyCLONe, the NIS Cooperation Group, the CSIRTs Network, and the informal network of European Cybersecurity Directors, which saw significant strengthening during this presidency.

As Chair of EU-CyCLONe, CCB led the adoption of the network’s first Rules of Procedure, submitted the network’s first report to the Council and European Parliament, and navigated it through the European Elections and ENISA’s Cyber Europe Exercise. Within the NIS Cooperation Group, the CCB led efforts on Active Cyber Protection and contributed to discussions on Post-Quantum Cryptography, ensuring Europe stays ahead in the cybersecurity race. 

Other International activity

Also beyond the Presidency the CCB played a pivotal role at both national and international levels in coordinating  progress in cybersecurity policy, partnerships, and preparedness.

Nationally, CCB led the National Cybersecurity Council Belgium (NCCB), ensuring coordination between federal and regional cybersecurity authorities. We managed the Platform Cybersecurity, aligning security and intelligence services to advise the National Security Council on a unified national cybersecurity policy. CCB answered Parliamentary Questions, engaged with many stakeholders, including associations such as the Cybersecurity Coalition, Beltug, Agoria and many more.  

Internationally, we expanded Belgium’s bilateral network, advancing collaborations with EU and non-EU countries. Highlights included organizing a MISP workshop in Brussels with  Lithuania, in the context of the Counter Ransomware Initiative, praised for enhancing ransomware information-sharing. We continued to lead OSCE efforts on public-private partnerships through CBM 14 and reinforced Belgium’s contributions to NATO's Cyber Defence Pledge.

A major achievement this year was passing the Belgian NIS2 law, transposing the EU NIS2 Directive. Led by the efforts of the CCB, Belgium was the first Member State to fully transpose this European obligation. Additionally, the CCB’s Cyber Fundamentals Framework that helps guide and attest NIS2 implementation became a certification scheme, and moreover is becoming a European norm. Several other Member States are now underway in equally adopting the scheme. CCB also won the European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM) award for best awareness video. These and many other efforts contribute to making Belgium one of the leading voices in cybersecurity policy in the EU.

Looking ahead, the CCB  has begun preparing the new National Cybersecurity Strategy (2025-2030), updating the current strategy and implementing NIS2 obligations. At the European level, we anticipate reviews of the Cybersecurity Act and Cyber Blueprint, as well as new initiatives such as a Commission Action plan on Cybersecurity in the health care sector. The CCBplans to scale up capacity-building initiatives, intensify bilateral partnerships, and strengthen international frameworks to bolster Belgium’s cybersecurity.