The European Commission has issued a call for participants to join a new multi-stakeholder forum intended to accelerate the deployment of secure internet standards across the European Union. The initiative, announced under the headline “European Commission seeks participants for multi-stakeholder forum on internet standards deployment” and published on the Digital Strategy website, aims to bring together key actors from industry, government, civil society, and academia in a coordinated effort to bolster cybersecurity and improve the overall resilience of the internet infrastructure in the EU.
According to the Commission, while numerous security-related standards already exist—such as DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), Transport Layer Security (TLS), and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)—adoption has been uneven and often sluggish across both public and private sectors. The new forum is intended to address this gap by promoting awareness, sharing best practices, and identifying systemic barriers that hinder large-scale implementation.
The deployment of internet standards is widely seen as a foundational, though often overlooked, component of digital security policy. Rather than focusing solely on reactive measures to cyber threats, the Commission’s approach is part of a broader strategy that emphasizes prevention through technical robustness. The creation of a structured forum provides a mechanism for aligning EU-wide efforts, potentially reducing fragmentation and duplication of effort among member states.
The proposed forum will be convened and supported by the European Commission but driven by its stakeholders, in line with the EU’s emphasis on inclusive and transparent governance in digital policy. The Commission is currently seeking expressions of interest from organizations and experts who are active in the development, standardization, or implementation of internet standards, particularly those with a clear focus on security and interoperability.
This move reflects a growing recognition that the security of the internet cannot be left solely to voluntary or market-driven forces. Inconsistent adoption of vital standards can leave critical infrastructure exposed, undermining both economic resilience and public trust in digital services. By establishing a collaborative platform for all stakeholders, the Commission hopes to foster a shared commitment to raising the baseline for internet security across the 27-member bloc.
Interested parties have until September 2024 to submit their applications to join the forum. The selected participants will contribute to the development of recommendations and operational guidance that could eventually inform both EU-level policy and national cybersecurity initiatives.
The announcement comes as part of the broader EU digital strategy, which aims to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of technological development while safeguarding fundamental rights, competitive fairness, and network security. As the internet continues to evolve into a critical public utility, calls for systematic, proactive standard deployment are likely to become increasingly prominent in both industry and policy circles.
