EU sets plan for safer AI use in cybersecurity

The European Commission presented an Action Plan on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence on 07 July 2026 to support safe, responsible AI use while strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity. The plan responds to AI’s dual role in cyber defense and cyber risk: it can help detect vulnerabilities, prevent attacks and protect critical infrastructure, but can also be used by malicious actors to automate attacks and operate at greater speed and scale.

The initiative sets out 3 complementary objectives: promoting the safe and responsible use of advanced AI, reinforcing the EU’s cybersecurity and resilience, and scaling up Europe’s AI capabilities for cybersecurity. The Commission plans to strengthen capacity to evaluate AI models before they enter the EU market under the AI Act, work with ENISA on a European Blueprint for secure access to advanced AI systems, and create a secure testing platform for critical sectors including energy, transport, health, finance and public administration.

The plan also promotes implementation of EU cybersecurity laws including the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act, while encouraging organisations to use AI and open-source models where appropriate to find and address vulnerabilities faster. The Commission will launch an EU Grand Challenge on AI for cybersecurity and continue investing in sovereign AI capabilities through initiatives such as AI Factories and future Gigafactories.