Cyprus has supported the establishment of a common pan-European age of majority, mandatory age verification, and regulations on what is appropriate for children, through a joint initiative that the country co-signed on the safety of minors online together with six other countries, during the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the EU which was held in Luxembourg on Friday.
According to a press release by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy on the participation of the Deputy Minister, Nikodemos Damianou, the initiative by France, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, and Cyprus focused on the protection of minors from online threats and dangers.
“The initiative supports the establishment of a pan-European digital age of majority, mandatory age verification, and the establishment of regulatory standards for safe and age-appropriate digital environments,” the press release said.
Speaking during the presentation of the proposal, the Deputy Minister pointed out that protecting children online is not only a regulatory necessity but also a moral responsibility of EU Member States.
In addition to the protection of minors, the main topics of discussion were digital resilience, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
During the Council, it added, Damianou said that Cyprus supports the text of conclusions on resilient connectivity, emphasising the need to strengthen Europe’s digital backbone through investments in submarine cables, satellite systems such as IRIS, and next-generation technologies such as 6G. He stressed that these infrastructures are crucial for strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy and operational continuity.
In a speech on cybersecurity, the Deputy Minister welcomed the adoption of the EU Blueprint on cyber crisis management, which, as he pointed out, strengthens the EU’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to large-scale crises in cyberspace.
During a working lunch, where issues of Artificial Intelligence were discussed, Damianou highlighted Cyprus’ interest in participating in the European AI Gigafactories initiative, which is part of the broader InvestAI mechanism.
He particularly stressed the importance of regional cooperation and the involvement of the academic community in scaling up innovation, noting the need for a model that combines the attraction of trusted international partners with strong safeguards to ensure European control over critical technologies.
In view of the Cyprus’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Deputy Minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Poland. They exchanged views on EU priorities in the field of digital policy, the alignment of cybersecurity policies, and the strengthening of digital cooperation and regional innovation ecosystems.
On Thursday, Damianou attended a dinner with the MED9 group of Digital Policy Ministers, who reiterated their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the areas of digital innovation, secure connectivity, and artificial intelligence solutions to address common challenges such as climate resilience, migration, and education.
