MEP Josianne Cutajar has once again been entrusted with important digital work on behalf of the Socialists as Rapporteur on the upcoming Managed Security Services Regulation in the ITRE Committee. This appointment follows Cutajar’s accomplishment on the European Union’s Path to the Digital Decade as well as on data and artificial intelligence legislation.

In relation to this appointment, MEP Cutajar emphasized the role of the legislation in defining a common European cybersecurity certification scheme for managed security services, which ensure that enterprises are always up-to-date with the status of security issues.

"Digitalisation is not only necessary and beneficial to our society, but also a growing phenomenon which, without proper safeguards, leaves many services and companies exposed to cybercrime," said the MEP. ‘This is particularly relevant for governments and businesses, in the interest of which we need to foster a more inclusive digital landscape’ she continued.

Cutajar stated that the services ensuring safe connections and exchanges of data must be more easily accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that are not digitally versed and lack the resources to invest significantly in compliance and protection measures. She also emphasized the importance of the human factor and of the needed skills, which need to better developed through partnerships, investment in education, and adequate curricula.

Discussions relating to cybersecurity and cyber threats also took place during a European Internet Forum delegation to Israel, which MEP Josianne Cutajar participated in last week. During such visit, the delegation met various renowned digital companies but also start-ups, governmental agencies and representatives from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Hub in Tel Aviv, among others.

Commenting on her visit and her new role as Rapporteur on the new file, MEP Cutajar stated that she looks forward to reinforcing the importance of collaborative approaches and sharing of best practices in the field of technology and innovation, including in the field of cross-border digital threats and cybersecurity.

 “At the end of the day, it is crucial to recognize that concepts such as cybersecurity play an important role not only for governments and companies but also in our daily lives. This has been particularly evident recently, with a notable increase in online scams targeting bank customers and students undergoing their O-level examinations,” the MEP concluded.