РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Harmonization of cyber security systems of critical infrastructure with EU standards was discussed at the meeting of the National Cyber Security Cluster in Warsaw

On March 31, 2023, the XVIII meeting of the National Cyber Security Cluster was held in the city of Warsaw (Poland) on the topic: "Harmonization of critical infrastructure cyber security systems with EU standards." The event was organized by the National Cyber Security Coordinating Center in cooperation with the US Civilian Research and Development Foundation with the support of the US Department оf State.

"This is the first Cluster outside of Ukraine. It deals with an extremely urgent issue - the harmonization of the Ukrainian cyber security system with EU standards. But it is worth noting that in this process we have to take into account the experience of our country in the war with the russian federation. Therefore, our meeting not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the specifics of the EU cyber security sphere, but also allows us to share with our partners Ukraine's unique experience in cyber warfare," Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Serhiy Demedyuk said, opening the Cluster meeting.

"The National Cyber Security Cluster was created as a platform for communication and coordination of the main Ukrainian cyber security entities with our foreign partners. We've come a long way, considering current issues from cyber defense and cyber security to issues of cyber defense, cyber diplomacy and engagement with the private sector. And I am glad that today we are already discussing the development of the stability of our state in cyberspace," Head of the NCSCC Support Service of the NSDC Staff Serhiy Prokopenko said.

Serhiy Prokopenko also thanked Poland for remaining the closest friend, ally and partner of Ukraine in these difficult times, as well as the co-organizers - CRDF Global and the US Department оf State for the fact that for almost three years the Cluster has been helping to build the national cyber security system and bring closer our victory

Mykhailo Verych, Head of Operations of CRDF Global in Ukraine, noted that the National Cyber Security Cluster's activities have the main goal of coordinating efforts. "This is not only about the coordinated work of all subjects at the national level, which is primarily a prerequisite for the stability of the cyber security system. Our international allies and the donor community play an important role in this process. The exchange of best practices, experience and opportunities is the key to the continued integration of Ukraine into the European cyberspace," Mykhailo Verych added.

The participants of the event discussed issues related to the peculiarities of legislation in the field of cyber security of Ukraine and the EU, practical steps for rapprochement, the importance of public-private partnership in this process, and also reviewed the best practices and experience of the European Union.

About 300 representatives of the public sector, the international and donor community, embassies and private institutions took part in the meeting online and offline. Among the key speakers of the event - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Zvarych, Ambassador for Cyber & Tech Affairs, Security Policy Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tadeusz Chomicki, Deputy Chief of Mission in Kyiv at the US Embassy in Ukraine Christopher Smith, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, ENISA, the Cyber Security Center of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, the NSDC of Ukraine Staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Intelligence Service.