The National Security Council has included Cybersecurity as a priority for the National Security Strategy developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The National Security Policy is being developed through two key components: the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which aims to create an adequate capacity for prevention, defence, detection, response and recovery in the event of cyber-threats; and the National Cybersecurity Plan, which sets out the lines of action developed by the Strategy.

Cybersecurity has a key role in Spain's activity abroad. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has a special responsibility in applying the line of action number 8 of the National Cybersecurity Plan. It deals with the international commitment to promote a secure and reliable international cyberspace, supporting national interests. Linked to this line of action, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation coordinates the International Cooperation and European Union Plan. This document is clearly cross-cutting in nature, as international cooperation also affects other lines of action such as the fight against cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism, protection of critical infrastructures and cyber-defence.

The opportunities and risks of technological globalisation mean we have to resort to international cooperation to achieve a secure and reliable cyberspace. The aim is to attain global standards, expand the international system of laws and develop and promote best practices. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation represents Spain in these international efforts, in line with the guidelines established in the different strategic national instruments.

Another of the responsibilities of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the area of cybersecurity is to comply with the responsibilities awarded it by the Foreign Action Strategy, the instrument for planning and monitoring the country’s foreign policy. The Strategy was approved in 2014, and identifies cybersecurity as one of the priority issues making up the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.

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National Security Council