Italian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, visits the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)

Today, the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre’s (ECCC) Executive Director, Mr. Luca Tagliaretti, welcomed the Italian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Antonio Tajani, at the ECCC premises in Bucharest, Romania.

During his visit, Vice-President Tajani met the ECCC staff member and was informed of the activities and mandate of the Centre with its the role as engine for the implementation of Europe’s strategy in research, innovation, and industrial policy in the area of cybersecurity. The joint efforts of the European Union and of the member states are delivering promising results but more cooperation is necessary to ensure a better response to Cyber-threats. 

The Italian delegation, led by Vice-President Tajani, also included, Ms. Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Alberto Barachini, Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for information and publishing, and Ms. Stefania Craxi, Member of the Senate and President of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Commission of the Senate of the Republic.

The visit of Vice-President Tajani followed a round table on cybersecurity and Innovation as key for increasing competitiveness of the European enterprises. This round table organized by the Italian Embassy in Romania, on March 6, was opened by Mr. Alfredo M. Durante Mangoni, Italian Ambassador to Romania, and Ms. Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In addition to the ECCC Executive Director, Ms. Lara Tassan Zanin, European Investment Bank, and Ms. Catalina Dodu, Ernst & Young took part to the debate.

About the ECCC

The ECCC, the first EU Body established in Romania, has currently 30 staff members, and is managing funding of Digital Europe Programme (DEP) related to cybersecurity with an overall budget of ca. 327 million €, and as of 2025, will manage an overall DEP budget of more than 700 million €.

For more information, please check out the ECCC website.
Contact for media: CNECT-ECCC-COMMUNICATIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CNECT-ECCC-COMMUNICATION[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Background

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) aims to increase Europe’s cybersecurity capacities, innovation and competitiveness, managing funding and working with a Network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) and the Cybersecurity Community across the EU.

The ECCC manages cybersecurity projects funded by the DIGITAL Europe and Horizon Europe, as well as Member States and other actors. The ECCC adopted in March 2023 its first strategic agenda for investment on cybersecurity, and will open its next call for proposals for EU projects on cybersecurity at the end of 2023. The ECCC, together with the NCCs Network, also supports collaboration on cybersecurity innovation and capacities between industry, public authorities, academia and other relevant cyber stakeholders