Article 6 Specific Objective 3 – Cybersecurity and Trust

support the building-up and procurement of advanced cybersecurity equipment, tools and data infrastructures, together with Member States, in order to achieve a high common level of cybersecurity at European level, in full compliance with data protection legislation and fundamental rights, while ensuring the strategic autonomy of the Union;

support the development of the European Cybersecurity Alert System established by Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2025/38 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ) (the ‘European Cybersecurity Alert System’), including the development, deployment and operation of National Cyber Hubs and Cross-Border Cyber Hubs that contribute to situational awareness in the Union and to enhancing the cyber threat intelligence capacities of the Union;

support the building-up and best use of European knowledge, capacity and skills related to cybersecurity and the sharing and mainstreaming of best practices;

ensure a wide deployment of effective state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions across the European economy, paying special attention to public authorities and SMEs;

reinforce capabilities within Member States and private sector to help them comply with Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 ) including through measures supporting the uptake of cybersecurity best practices;

improve resilience against cyber and hybrid threats against critical digital infrastructure and cyberattacks, contribute towards increasing risk-awareness and knowledge of cybersecurity processes, support public and private organisations in achieving basic levels of cybersecurity, for example by deploying end-to-end encryption of data and software updates;

enhance cooperation between the civil and defence spheres with regard to dual-use projects, services, competences and applications in cybersecurity, including the development of cybersecurity technologies tailored to defence-related infrastructure, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/887 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 4 );

establish and operate the Cybersecurity Emergency Mechanism established by Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2025/38, including the EU Cybersecurity Reserve established by Article 14 of that Regulation (the ‘EU Cybersecurity Reserve’), to support Member States in preparing for and responding to significant cybersecurity incidents and large-scale cybersecurity incidents that is complementary to national resources and capabilities and other forms of support available at Union level, and to support other users in responding to significant cybersecurity incidents and large-scale-equivalent cybersecurity incidents.