On 1 June 2026, the CyberSPEX joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe organised its fourth Steering Committee meeting in Strasbourg, France, gathering representatives of the EU member states authorities and partners from EU agencies (EUROPOL, EUROJUST, SIRIUS project). The meeting served as a platform to review progress made by EU Member States in the implementation of the Second Additional Protocol (2AP) to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), and to outline the project's work plan for the upcoming period.
The meeting provided a comprehensive overview of progress against the project's three outcomes:
- Increased alignment of domestic legislation with the Second Additional Protocol
- Progress in EU Member States to become Parties to the Second Protocol
- Improved capacities of criminal justice practitioners
Regarding capacity building offered under the project, it was stressed that over 500 criminal justice practitioners have been involved in project activities to prepare them for the implementation of the 2AP. These included a workshop on emergency co-operation through the 24/7 Network for EU Member States (held in Bucharest), and the relaunch of the updated HELP course with a dedicated module on the Second Protocol's provisions.
Looking ahead, the work plan for June–December 2026 was presented and endorsed, encompassing targeted legislative support workshops for advanced EU Member States, training for prosecutors and criminal justice authorities, and the development of a skeleton training programme.
In December 2026 the project will hold its closing conference aimed at tacking stock of the achievements and impact of the project.