Video: https://youtu.be/r_mvxZWyJ-E
Dear All,
Good morning.
I wish to thank the European Political Strategy Centre and the Security Union Taskforce for organising this very timely and topical event. I also wish to thank European Parliament Vice-President Bogusław Liberadzki for his presence at today’s event.
It is with great regret that I cannot be there physically, but I wish to send you a few words through this video. This conference is an excellent opportunity to discuss an issue which is of tremendous importance to the European Union and to its citizens: protecting the credibility and legitimacy of our democratic electoral processes.
As practitioners and experts on electoral processes, you are key players in the essential work that we need, jointly, to take forward. I hope that this conference will help to inform and inspire your work in the coming weeks and months.
In only a few months, the elections for the European Parliament will take place. These will shape the future of the EU in the coming years. It is imperative that we work together to support the integrity and effective conduct of these elections as well as all of those held at national and local level within the European Union. To ensure that they take place freely, fairly, and securely without undue influence from external actors.
Our democratic societies are founded on robust and credible democratic elections. Our citizens have a right to choose without external interference and with the security that their vote is properly reflected in the final election results. Online communication has reduced the barriers and costs for political actors to interact with citizens. This offers great opportunities.
However, it has also increased the possibilities for malicious actors to target the democratic debate and electoral processes. We cannot afford to harbour any illusions. We cannot afford to be complacent. The European Union and its political systems are not immune to such threats.
Attacks from external sources aim to undermine our institutions and the credibility of our political systems. These hybrid threats are a threat to our democratic society. Experience has shown that cyberspace can be used by malicious actors of different backgrounds to target elections and elections processes.
For example by gaining illegal access to information systems or by disrupting information systems with distributed-denial-of-service attacks. Politically motivated mass online disinformation campaigns aim to influence public opinion and to undermine trust and the legitimacy of public institutions.
Together, we need to build strong cybersecurity for our elections and election processes, based on a comprehensive approach that includes resilience, deterrence and a diplomatic response where state actors are involved.
The Commission has already proposed a series of measures, which are intended to help us better to protect our democratic processes from manipulation by third countries or private interests. Central to these recommendations is the importance of effective cooperation and information exchange between all relevant authorities. In particular, experience sharing across Member States on cyber incidents is essential.
That is why the Commission has recommended the establishment of national elections networks. These networks should enable national authorities to exchange information capable of affecting the elections but also jointly to identify threats and gaps, share findings and expertise, and liaise on the application and enforcement of relevant rules in the online environment.
In that context, I am pleased that many representatives from national organisations are participating in this conference. Over these two days, I hope that this event will provide you with some of the tools and elements which can assist you in the work that you do in support of these goals.
It is important also that we do not overlook the important role to be played by national law enforcement authorities in detecting potential threats and enforcing existing rules. European agencies, such as Europol, will continue to support these efforts at the European level.
Dear colleagues,
We are all affected directly by the security of our elections. Free and fair elections are part of what defines who we are. No country and no region can address this challenge alone. Let us work together to ensure safe elections in our European home in 2019.
Together with my colleague Commissioner King, we look forward to hearing your input, which can steer our joint work forward.