Over the past two decades, voluntary principles and standards have been progressively established to guide responsible behavior by states in cyberspace. Their implementation, however, remains uneven: for many countries, translating these commitments into national policies, procedures, and operational tools requires specialized expertise, coordination among government agencies, and institutional capacities that still need to be strengthened.
In response to this need, the European University Institute in Florence will host the EU CyberNet Summer School 2026 from July 29 to 31, focusing on the theme “Cyber Diplomacy: From Norms to Actions – Governing Cyberspace in a Fractured World.”
The initiative is organized by EU CyberNet in collaboration with EU Cyber Direct–EUISS, the European External Action Service, and theEuropean University Institute and Cyber 4.0.
As an active stakeholder in EU CyberNet, Cyber 4.0 thus reaffirms its commitment to supporting the cyber capacity-building initiatives promoted by the European network, helping to bring together experts and professionals to explore the tools needed to link international standards, law, technical expertise, and diplomatic action.
The EU CyberNet Summer School: Skills for Translating Regulations into Action
The Summer School is aimed at expertsfrom the EU CyberNet Expert Pool, the international community that brings together more than 580 professionals working in fields such as cybersecurity, cybercrime, cyber diplomacy, cyber defense, artificial intelligence, and data protection. Their expertise is used to analyze the needs of partner countries, organize training activities, and provide specialized assistance.
The 2026 edition aims to strengthen experts’ ability to support governments and organizations in the transition from internationally agreed commitments to their implementation in various national contexts.
The program will follow a train-the-trainer approach: the knowledge and methodologies developed in Florence can be applied to future EU CyberNet missions and adapted to the institutional capacities and priorities of the partner countries.
The Summer School Program: Training, Discussion, and Application
Through training sessions, panel discussions, case studies, and group activities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the law applicable to cyberspace, the evolution of international processes, and the tools of European cyber diplomacy.
The comparison of diplomatic, technical, legal, and institutional expertise will make it possible to examine how principles and tools can be applied in contexts characterized by different capabilities and priorities.
The program will culminate in a multilateral negotiation simulation, during which participants will have to navigate national interests, divergent positions, and consensus-based decision-making processes, identifying solutions that are technically sound, legally tenable, and politically negotiable.
The Summer School will thus help train experts capable of supporting governments and institutions in transforming shared principles and commitments into operational tools and capabilities, thereby turning norms into action.
View the full program for the EU CyberNet Summer School 2026 on the EU CyberNet website.