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When we Europeans think about security, they often imagine borders, armies, weapons, alliances and geopolitical crises. These are important of course. When we think about Russia’s war against Ukraine, the instability in the Middle East and growing global competition we are reminded that hard security has returned to the center of politics. But the next major security challenge for Europe will not only be fought on land, at sea or in the air. It will also be fought in networks, databases, elections, public services and personal devices.

A cyberattack can paralyse a hospital, disrupt transport systems, steal personal data, influence elections or damage trust in democratic institutions. For young Europeans especially, whose lives are deeply connected to the digital world, this is not a distant threat because it affects the way we study, work, communicate, vote and participate in society.

AI can strengthen cybersecurity by detecting threats faster, analysing large amounts of data and helping institutions respond to attacks. But, it can also be used maliciously, by helping attackers identify vulnerabilities, automate cyberattacks, produce convincing phishing messages, spread misinformation and increase the speed and scale of digital threats.

This is why the European Union’s recent focus on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence matters. Europe has already built an important legal and regulatory framework, including the AI Act, the Cyber Resilience Act and the Network and
Information Systems Directive. But regulation alone is not enough, Europe must also build real digital resilience.

Digital resilience means more than reacting after an attack, it means preparing societies, institutions and citizens before crises happen. It means protecting critical infrastructure, supporting public administrations, strengthening hospitals
and helping businesses, especially smaller ones. A society cannot be cyber resilient if most citizens do not understand the basic risks of the digital environment in which they live.

Young Europeans are often described as “digital natives”, but being comfortable online is not the same as being digitally secure. Many young people know how to use technology, but not always how technology can be used against them. Cybersecurity education should therefore become part of a broader European civic education. Just as citizens learn about democracy, rights and institutions, they should also learn about data protection, disinformation, online manipulation and digital responsibility.

The answer to cyber threats should not be fear, censorship or mass surveillance. A democratic Europe must protect security while also defending privacy, freedom of expression and fundamental rights. The goal should not be simply to create a more controlled digital space, but a safer and more trustworthy one. If Europe moves too slowly, people will remain exposed to new digital threats. But if it becomes too strict, it may make innovation harder and push Europe behind other global powers. The challenge is to create rules that protect people without preventing technological progress. This requires cooperation between governments, companies, researchers, civil society and citizens.

Defence spending, military readiness and border protection are important, but they are only part of the picture. The security of the future will also depend on whether a hospital can resist ransomware, whether elections can withstand digital interference, whether citizens can trust information online and whether Europe can develop technologies that reflect democratic values.

For my generation, digital security is part of everyday life. We live in a Europe where a smartphone can be a tool of freedom, but also a point of vulnerability. We benefit from connectivity, but we are also exposed to manipulation, data theft and digital dependency. If Europe wants to protect its citizens in the coming decades, it must understand that security is no longer only military. It is also digital.

The next European security challenge will not arrive with a uniform or a flag. It may arrive as a line of code, a fake message, a hacked system or an algorithm designed to manipulate trust.