A new chapter in the development of European cybersecurity policy has begun with the official establishment of the Cybersecurity Skills Coalition European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (CSC-EDIC). Announced in Brussels by Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen during the Digital Skills EU Days 2026, the CSC-EDIC will have its seat in Athens, with Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia coming together as founding members. Czechia and Poland have joined as observers. Other Member States will be able to join at any time under fair and reasonable terms. The consortium aims to become the European Union's primary mechanism for developing a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce across all Member States.

Greece's active participation in shaping this new European initiative is particularly significant. According to the National Cybersecurity Authority, Greece is among the founding Member States of CSC-EDIC and participated in every stage of its preparation—from designing the institutional framework to developing the consortium's strategic direction. The Greek authority also played a coordinating role during the preparatory phase, contributing to the design and architecture of this new European initiative.

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCSA) of Greece aims to organize, coordinate and implement a comprehensive framework of strategies, measures and actions for achieving and maintaining a high level of prevention, protection, deterrence, response and recovery from cyberattacks. To fulfill its purpose, the Authority develops comprehensive cybersecurity policies framework and draws the National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCSS) through which the strategic objectives, the priorities and the cybersecurity governance framework are defined. At the national level, NCSA is the leading authority in the cybersecurity domain implementing a whole of government approach. The Authority is responsible for issuing mandatory cybersecurity requirements for essential and important entities, as well as guidance of implementation and it is the competent authority to monitor compliance with the cybersecurity legislation. It fosters cooperation and coordination between governmental agencies and between the public and private sector. The Authority cooperates with EU agencies, other member states’ entities and communicates and exchanges expertise with international bodies and organizations as well as allied countries.

Addressing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The creation of CSC-EDIC is intended to tackle one of the European Union's most pressing challenges: the growing shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals. As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated and digital infrastructure grows ever more critical to the economy, public administration, and defense, developing a highly skilled workforce has emerged as a strategic priority for Europe's competitiveness and resilience. In this context, the new consortium is expected to serve as the operational arm of the European Cybersecurity Skills Academy, gradually assuming responsibility for key initiatives related to education, reskilling, upskilling, and closer collaboration among governments, universities, businesses, and public-sector organizations. As a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), CSC-EDIC provides a permanent institutional framework for cross-border cooperation, enabling participating countries to jointly develop projects, pool resources, and consolidate expertise at the European level.

The CSC-EDIC will play a key role in the implementation of the EU’s Cybersecurity Skills Academy, a flagship cybersecurity skills initiative launched by the Commission in 2023. Since launching, the Cybersecurity Skills Academy has resulted in 26 pledges from global industry leaders who have helped to train more than 900,000 cyber professionals, while ten partnerships have been established through the Industry-Academia Network.

The Cybersecurity Skills Academy has helped expand the uptake of ENISA’s European Cybersecurity Skills Framework among industry. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, ENISA, maintains its official seat in Greece, operating from headquarters in Athens and an office in Heraklion, Crete. Established in 2004, this pivotal institution strengthens Europe’s collective digital resilience against evolving online threats .The agency achieves this by developing standardized cybersecurity certification frameworks for ICT products, analyzing global threat landscapes, and fostering cooperation among member states. Additionally, ENISA coordinates large-scale cyber crisis exercises to prepare nations for emergencies.

Greece's Role

The Greek government believes that participation in CSC-EDIC strengthens the country's position on the European cybersecurity landscape—not merely as a recipient of European policies but as an active contributor to their design. For Greece, active participation in this new European structure represents both recognition of the expertise it has developed in cybersecurity in recent years and an opportunity to further strengthen its influence on European digital security policy. At a time when protecting critical digital infrastructure has become a matter of strategic importance, developing specialized cybersecurity skills is increasingly recognized as a key driver of Europe's resilience and global competitiveness.

The Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Michalis Bletsas, described the establishment of the consortium as the culmination of years of collective European effort. He emphasized that developing cybersecurity skills is essential for effectively addressing the constantly evolving cyber threat landscape, adding that investment in education and continuous professional training is a cornerstone of Europe's digital security strategy.

Similarly, Ioannis Alexakis, Director General for Strategic Planning at the National Cybersecurity Authority, noted that through CSC-EDIC—and in collaboration with leading Greek universities, including the Athens University of Economics and Business, the University of Piraeus, the University of Macedonia, and the Ionian University—Greece aims to play a leading role in advancing European cybersecurity skills. These efforts will also contribute to establishing the European Cybersecurity Academy, which will be headquartered in Athens.

(Sources: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/, https://www.amna.gr/, https://www.ertnews.gr/ )    

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