UK-EU Cybersecurity cooperation in the context of the TCA

Although the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) presents cybersecurity as a priority area in future UK-EU relations, the legal and political avenues are now narrower when compared to the pre-2020 relationship.

The TCA has brought about a de facto decrease in information exchange, a limited participation of the UK in EU cybersecurity bodies, and a reduced capacity to influence the direction of the EU cybersecurity policy.

UK practitioners are worried about what they perceive as lowered cybersecurity standards, more restricted data exchange, increased costs stemming from needing to cater for different jurisdictions, limited capacity to attract cybersecurity talent, and a consequent reduction in the UK’s capacity to evaluate the cyber insecurity landscape.

This policy paper identifies the main differences between the pre-TCA cybersecurity relationship and the current one, and puts forward recommendations to address the negative impact of the TCA implementation.

Download the report here.

The report was written by Commission member Helena Farrand Carrapico.

Helena is Professor of International Relations and European Politics, Northumbria University. She can be contacted on helena.farrand-carrapico@northumbria.ac.uk.