Cyber: European Union and Japan hold 7th Cyber Dialogue in Brussels

On 28 January 2026, the European Union and Japan held their seventh Cyber Dialogue in Brussels. Building on the outcomes of the EU-Japan Summit, Security & Defence Dialogue and Strategic Dialogue in 2025, the Cyber Dialogue confirmed the growing scope and depth of EU-Japan cooperation on cyber issues.

​During the Cyber Dialogue, the EU and Japan:

• Exchanged views on the evolving cyber threat landscape and responses to malicious cyber activities.

• Provided updates on recent policy, legislative and regulatory developments on cybersecurity, including in areas such as emerging and critical technologies, cyber crisis management and cyber defence.

• Discussed respective frameworks for product security, resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure, and explored options for further cooperation to enhance security of supply chains and digital connectivity.

• Reviewed ongoing cooperation in international and regional forums, in particular with respect to the United Nations Global Mechanism to advance responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. 

• Exchanged on coordination within the G7, and work within regional organisations such as the ASEAN Regional Forum.

• Discussed respective approaches to cyber capacity‑building and assistance to partner countries, with a focus on the Indo‑Pacific and other regions of mutual interest.

In the margins of the Dialogue, the EU and Japan also held an expert roundtable on diplomatic responses to malicious cyber activities.

The EU and Japan agreed to continue using the Cyber Dialogue as a platform to deepen practical cooperation, share best practices and coordinate positions in multilateral fora. Both sides will continue to work closely together to enhance cyber resilience, promote responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and support partners in strengthening their cyber capacities. 

The next EU‑Japan Cyber Dialogue will be hosted by Japan in Tokyo in 2027.

On the EU side, the Dialogue was co‑chaired by Maciej Stadejek, Deputy Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence, European External Action Service (EEAS), and Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Acting Director in charge of Cybersecurity and Trust, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), with the participation of EU officials from the EEAS, DG CNECT, DG INTPA, DG HOME, ENISA, CERT-EU and Europol and with EU Member States representatives participating as observers.

On the Japanese side, the Dialogue was co-chaired by Takeomi Yamamoto, Director of the National Security Policy Division of the Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign affairs, with the participation of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Cybersecurity Office, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, JPCERT/CC and the Mission of Japan to the EU.

Background 

The Cyber Dialogue contributes to the implementation of actions under the EU‑Japan Security and Defence Partnership and EU-Japan Digital Partnership, including on cyber diplomacy, cyber defence, secure connectivity, data governance, artificial intelligence and resilience of critical digital infrastructure. It complements discussions held at the 30^th EU‑Japan Summit (23 July 2025), the 1^st EU-Japan Security and Defence Dialogue (11 June 2025) and at the 3^rd EU‑Japan Digital Partnership Council (12 May 2025).