The Contribution of Cyber in Hybrid Conflict, 6–10 October 2025, Helsinki, Finland

As the European Union continues to confront the challenges of hybrid warfare and cyber threats, a recent ESDC training activity held in Helsinki, Finland, from 6 to 10 October 2025 underscored the importance of collaboration and cooperation among EU Member States.

The event, organised under the aegis of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) by the European Defence Agency and the The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, brought together more than 35 officials from civilian, military, diplomatic, and law enforcement agencies from 16 Member States to discuss and address the implications of cyber and hybrid threats.

The fourth edition of this training activity, which focused on the key elements of cyber defence and hybrid threats, was held against the backdrop of increasing tensions also in Europe. The activity, which included working group discussions, table-top exercises, and networking opportunities, aimed to provide participants with the necessary practice and expertise to understand and address the intersection of cyber and hybrid threats. 

As Dr Teija Tiilikainen, Director of Hybrid CoE, noted in her opening speech, the EU must be prepared to counter the increasingly sophisticated and complex threats also posed by Russia. 

As the European Union looks to the future, the challenges posed by hybrid warfare and cyber threats will only continue to grow. This ESDC cyber course helped to address these issues, and we hope that the lessons learned and the connections made during the event will contribute to a more robust and resilient EU cybersecurity posture.

The ESDC would like to thank the course directors from the EDA and Hybrid CoE for the effective organisation of the course, as well as the speakers and experts from the European External Action Service, Hybrid CoE, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), Cyber and Information Domain Service German Armed Forces | Cyber- und Informationsraum Bundeswehr, and Vedette for their valuable contributions and support. The ESDC also extends its gratitude to all participants for their proactive engagement and commitment to enhancing the EU’s cyber capabilities.