This Week in ICT & Cybersecurity — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Commission selects 46 new Strategic Projects under Critical Raw Materials Act; proposal to accelerate EU standards development; Citizens' Initiative for sovereign AI domains registered; new restrictive measures on Russia.
October 05, 2026 to October 11, 2026
Commission selects 46 new Strategic Projects under Critical Raw Materials Act; proposal to accelerate EU standards development; Citizens' Initiative for sovereign AI domains registered; new restrictive measures on Russia.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Informal meeting of telecommunications ministers: On October 12, the EU Council's Informal meeting of telecommunications ministers configuration is scheduled to hold an informal meeting ministerial meeting in Brussels.
- Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO): On October 15, the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Chair’s announcements; Coordinators’ meeting.
European Commission
Commission selects 46 new Strategic Projects to strengthen EU critical raw materials supply
On 8 October 2026, the European Commission announced the selection of 46 new Strategic Projects across 16 Member States to strengthen the EU's supply of critical raw materials. These projects support benchmarks in the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)—10% extraction, 40% processing, and 25% recycling of annual EU consumption by 2030. The selection follows a call that closed in January 2026, with projects covering lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, magnesium, tungsten, and rare earth elements. The Commission reports that 25 projects from the 2025 selection have completed environmental assessments, and 17 have construction permits. Over €2 billion has been mobilised through EU financial instruments, State aid, and EIB loans. The next call for Strategic Projects is planned for late 2026.
Commission proposes to accelerate standards development for EU competitiveness
On 5 October 2026, the European Commission proposed a revision of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 to modernise the European standardisation system. The proposal introduces deadlines for standards requested by the Commission, enables use of external specifications, interim deliverables, and broader participation from SMEs and civil society. The Commission estimates the measures could reduce average standard development time from six to four years. Provisions for free access to harmonised standards and a new Expert Centre on European Standardisation are included. The proposal will be considered by Parliament and Council.
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative for sovereign European AI domains
On 5 October 2026, the Commission registered the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) titled 'Creation of a European Digital Space (.IA) for Sovereign AI Governance.' The initiative calls for an EU framework for high-trust digital spaces, negotiations with ISO and ICANN to reserve the .IA domain, and integration of eIDAS 2.0, AI Act algorithmic auditing, and GDPR for domain management. The registration confirms legal admissibility under the ECI Regulation, but the Commission has not assessed the substance. Organisers have six months to begin collecting signatures, after which the Commission must respond if the initiative reaches required thresholds.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2257 on restrictive measures concerning Russia
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2257 of 8 October 2026 amends Regulation (EU) 2024/2642 regarding restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities. The regulation updates listings of natural persons in Annex I following a review and enters into force the day after publication.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2258 extends restrictive measures against Russia
Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2258 of 8 October 2026 extends restrictive measures under Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643 against Russia until 9 October 2027. Amendments affect listings of certain individuals in Annex I.
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2251 on EU-Korea PNR data transfer agreement
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2251 of 1 October 2026 authorises the signing of the agreement between the EU and Republic of Korea on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. The agreement includes safeguards for personal data and supports cooperation between law enforcement authorities.
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2217 and 2026/2219 on Morocco's participation in PRIMA
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2217 of 17 February 2026 and Council Decision (EU) 2026/2219 of 24 September 2026 concern the signing and conclusion of an agreement updating the terms for Morocco's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe. The agreement is applied provisionally pending entry into force.
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2237 on EEA Joint Committee position regarding energy data exchange
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2237 of 24 September 2026 sets the EU position within the EEA Joint Committee to amend Annex IV (Energy) of the EEA Agreement, incorporating Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/703 on network code interoperability and data exchange rules.
EU Council
Upcoming informal Telecommunications Council to address digital infrastructure
An informal meeting of telecommunications ministers under the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council is scheduled for 12 October 2026, with digital infrastructure expected on the agenda.
What We're Reading This Week
- Europe braces for a deadly hybrid attack: European nations heighten security measures amid rising fears of coordinated cyber and physical assaults threatening public safety.
- Three in four EU workers face suspicious emails and links, report finds: A new report reveals that 75% of EU workers regularly encounter suspicious emails and potentially harmful links at work.
- The EU shelved AI liability rules. Sam Altman has revived the debate.: Sam Altman's advocacy has reignited EU discussions on how to hold AI companies accountable for harms caused by their technologies.
