National and European Institutions Engaged in a High-Level Dialogue During an Event Organized in Rome by the Italian National Agency for Microcredit
The conference “Cybersecurity and Cohesion Policies”, held on 25 March at Spazio Europa in Rome, provided a valuable forum to outline the general framework of cybersecurity and the role of cohesion policies within this strategic sector for economic growth and the competitiveness of Italian enterprises.
The event, promoted by the European Digital Innovation Hub MicroCyber and coordinated by the Italian National Agency for Microcredit, brought together leading Italian and European institutional representatives in the fields of cohesion policy and cybersecurity to define concrete strategies and explore opportunities for collaboration in the context of digital security and cohesion policy.
The day began with a significant keynote speech by Tommaso Foti, Minister for European Affairs, the NRRP, and Cohesion Policies, who emphasized the importance of training for SMEs:
“Our enterprises must be supported in this challenge that concerns their future,” stated Minister Foti. He also stressed that the conflict in Ukraine has made it clear that defense no longer refers solely to physical infrastructure but must include strategic digital infrastructure. He concluded by underlining how crucial training activities are to enable both cyber-attack response and prevention—key themes discussed extensively during the event.
Mario Baccini, President of the Italian National Agency for Microcredit, noted:
“Cybersecurity is a strategic pillar of digital transformation for both enterprises and public administrations. At both European and Italian levels, policies are focused on increasing cyber resilience, building a common ecosystem for the adoption of best practices and incident response. Cohesion policies and several national and European actors—such as competence centers and European Digital Innovation Hubs—also play an important role in supporting the implementation of these best practices. The National Agency for Microcredit,” Baccini added, “through the MicroCyber Hub, supports micro and small enterprises in adopting essential cybersecurity tools to remain competitive. The Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) plays a key role in promoting a secure and coordinated digitalization of the national production system.”
The conference continued with a roundtable discussion titled “Cybersecurity in Cohesion Policies”, which featured insights from prominent institutional representatives including Eva Spina (MIMIT), Bruno Frattasi (ACN), Despina Spanou (DG CONNECT), Luca Tagliaretti (ECCC), Ivano Gabrielli (Postal Police), and Riccardo Graziano (Italian National Agency for Microcredit). They explored regulatory frameworks, cyber defense strategies, and the role of cohesion policies in supporting digital security for enterprises.
Bruno Frattasi, Director General of Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), remarked:
“The pandemic highlighted the importance of digital cohesion and the digital divide—forms of social exclusion affecting both citizens and enterprises. The National Agency for Microcredit is doing excellent work by supporting fundamental needs, especially those of businesses and individuals facing critical challenges.”
Eva Spina, Director of the Digital Transition Department at MIMIT, stressed:
“Digital transition offers development opportunities previously unimaginable for small enterprises. However, it also exposes them to risks, including potential hacker attacks. For micro, small, and medium enterprises, awareness is the most critical factor—without it, the entire security framework collapses.”
Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC), noted:
“The most complex issue is ensuring coordination and interaction among all stakeholders involved. The ultimate goal is to ensure that limited investments achieve the greatest possible impact at the European level.”
Despina Spanou, representing the European Commission, stated:
“In Brussels, we devote considerable attention to the role of cybersecurity in our societies. Recent experiences show us that cyberattacks are not limited to financial motives—they are also driven by political decisions. These attacks are highly impactful, posing significant threats to our societies and economies. Our top priority is the protection of critical infrastructure.” She concluded by emphasizing the importance of training initiatives in the field of cybersecurity, commending MicroCyber for its work in promoting a widespread culture of digital security—especially among micro and small enterprises.
Ivano Gabrielli, Director of the Postal and Cybersecurity Police Service, added:
“Cybersecurity is a global issue that transcends national borders. We are facing a complex dimension with an unprecedented rise in illicit activities. Cybercrime is evolving rapidly in both scale and sophistication. These attacks are increasingly significant, pervasive, and dangerous.” He also underscored the importance of building a highly skilled police force with strong technical cybersecurity capabilities and highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Postal Police in developing a nationwide network of specialized centers for cybercrime investigation and rapid response.
Senator Franco Zaffini addressed the need to contain online criminal activities:
“Digital technology has erased traditional borders, placing us within an international, globalized dimension. Artificial Intelligence has further accelerated this process, enhancing capabilities but also amplifying risks. The most evident among these is cybersecurity. Effective tools are urgently needed to combat cybercriminals.”
Giovanni Nicola Pes, Deputy Secretary General of the Italian National Agency for Microcredit and Director of the MicroCyber project—who moderated the roundtable—concluded:
“This dialogue was highly valuable in highlighting opportunities for convergence at both national and European levels to strengthen cyber resilience across the production sector and public administrations. It also stressed the need to engineer financial tools and services that serve these goals. Over the past few months, significant progress has been made, including the publication of the Cyber Resilience Act, the Cyber Solidarity Act, and most recently the Cybersecurity Blueprint, alongside the entry into force of the NIS2 Directive. All of these have profoundly reshaped the regulatory landscape. With this event, the European Digital Innovation Hub MicroCyber has created an essential platform for high-level institutional dialogue, affirming its role as a key point of reference for supporting enterprises and public administrations in cybersecurity and digital innovation.”
