Commission reached an agreement on the new international cybercrime convention

On 8 August, the UN member states reached an agreement on a new UN cybercrime convention. The Commission has been negotiating this agreement on behalf of the EU and its Member States since May 2022, with the aim to achieve a new Convention that would prevent and combat cybercrime, enhance international cooperation and guarantee safeguards for fundamental rights. Throughout the negotiations, the Commission actively consulted with civil society and industry.

This new UN convention ensures stronger protection of fundamental rights and provides an efficient framework for international cooperation, including on the fight against child sexual abuse. It complements the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, to which all EU countries are parties, except Ireland, which has signed it but not yet ratified it.

The Convention, adopted by consensus by the Ad Hoc Committee, will be submitted to the UN General Assembly for its final endorsement later this year and will then be opened for signature by UN member states until 31 December 2026.

Background

In the 2021 Security Union third progress report, the Commission committed to ensure effective participation of the EU in the negotiations for a new comprehensive international cybercrime convention at the level of the United Nations. Following this commitment in March 2022, the Commission recommended to the Council to start such negotiations. In May 2022, the Council gave authorisation to the Commission to represent the EU in these negotiations.

Find out more

Draft United Nations convention against cybercrime

Council Recommendation authorising the negotiations

The Budapest Convention on cybercrime

Cybercrime