Integrating EU Enlargement Partners in Digital and Cyber Security (iss.europa.eu)

• Shared threat environment: 4,875 ENISA incidents, 80% ideologically motivated
• Ukraine: 5,900 cyberattacks in 2025, +37% vs 2024; Moldova: 1,000+ in H1 2025
• EU should prioritize operational resilience over regulatory compliance for partners

"The EU and its enlargement partners face shared cyber threats but lack operational cooperation. The EUISS brief argues for pre-accession integration beyond regulatory alignment. Current gaps include fragmented governance, skill shortages, and dependencies on non-European tech providers. Ukraine and Moldova have frontline experience but limited access to EU mechanisms. The brief recommends political, societal, and industrial resilience building, including info-sharing and joint exercises."