The Council of Europe: A Key Player in Cyber Diplomacy?

Among the various regional and international organisations engaging in cyber diplomacy, the Council of Europe (CoE) is frequently considered one of the most active. This chapter provides an analysis of the role and impact of the CoE in the field of cyber diplomacy, with a particular emphasis on the European Convention on Cybercrime, also known as “the Budapest Convention”. The convention, along with its two Additional Protocols, was the first binding international law instrument harmonising the definition of certain core cybercrimes and essential procedural rules aimed at their contrast. The chapter first provides a concise overview of the main relevant CoE initiatives, instruments and tools for addressing core cyber issues. Subsequently, five main challenges faced by the CoE in the cyber domain will be presented, along with some of the solutions adopted in response thereto. Finally, the chapter offers some reflections on the future prospects of the CoE as a core actor in cyber diplomacy.