The President of the Republic participated in a panel discussion as part of the proceedings of the European Political Community Summit in Dublin
The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, participated today in a thematic discussion, as part of the proceedings of the 9th Summit of the European Political Community taking place in Dublin, Ireland.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Speaking at the panel discussion on “Security and the Defense of a Democratic Europe,” the President of the Republic referred to the hybrid threats facing European states and beyond, noting that “hybrid threats are becoming increasingly frequent and, perhaps most alarmingly, are beginning to be treated as something normal.
From cyberattacks and incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles to disinformation and foreign interference—phenomena that were once considered rare— are now increasingly becoming part of our daily lives.” He emphasized that “we cannot allow these threats to become the new normal.”
President Christodoulides stressed that “our response must be comprehensive, coordinated, and principled,” noting that “we must better inform and protect our citizens. Especially today, with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, informing the public, raising awareness, and strengthening the resilience of our societies constitute our first line of defense. “This is something we are actively pursuing in Cyprus as well,” he said.
He also noted that “as the EU, we must strengthen oversight of digital platforms and technology companies. Greater transparency, accountability, and effective safeguards against the malicious use of artificial intelligence are essential for protecting our democratic societies.”
He also said that collective European tools must be fully and effectively utilized, including mechanisms to counter hybrid threats, cyberdiplomacy, and the manipulation of information by foreign actors, as well as targeted sanctions against those responsible for such actions.
In conclusion, he noted that defending Europe is not only about protecting borders and critical infrastructure, but also about protecting citizens, democratic institutions, and the trust upon which societies are built.
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