Cyber Security and European Strategic Autonomy: Coherence and Capability Challenges

This paper by Professor Ciaran Martin argues that autonomy in cyber security is essential if Europe wishes to forge digital strategic autonomy more widely. However, Professor Martin discusses how responsibility for cyber security in the EU is currently fragmented between Member States and EU institutions, preventing a coherent European cyber security strategy. Professor Martin also assesses how Europe’s lack of indigenous technological capabilities and the growing bifurcation of the internet present Europe with a choice between either deepening ties with the US or else making major commitments to a European tech-industrial policy.

Ciaran Martin is a Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the Blavatnik School of Government. Prior to joining the School, Ciaran was the founding Chief Executive of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ. Prof. Martin led a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to cyber security. He successfully advocated for a wholesale change of approach towards a more interventionist posture and this was adopted by the Government in the 2015 National Security Strategy, leading to the creation of the NCSC in 2016 under his leadership. In his 23-year career in the UK civil service, Prof. Martin held senior roles within the Cabinet Office, including Constitution Director (2011-2014) and director of Security and Intelligence at the Cabinet Office (2008-2011).