BRUSSELS, October 27, 2025: The European Commission has signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on behalf of the European Union during an official ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking a significant step in strengthening global cooperation against cyber threats. The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, known as the UN CAC, establishes a global legal framework to prevent, investigate, and prosecute cyber offenses.
It criminalizes a wide range of digital crimes, including child sexual exploitation, online fraud, identity theft, and ransomware attacks. The Convention also provides mechanisms for extradition, exchange of electronic evidence, and cooperation between law enforcement authorities across borders. The European Commission stated that the fight against cybercrime remains a strategic priority for the European Union.
It emphasized that cybercrime has no borders and poses risks to critical infrastructure, businesses, and citizens, leading to financial losses and the compromise of sensitive information. The new Convention is expected to enhance cooperation between the EU and other signatories, particularly with countries that are not part of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which remains the main international treaty in the field.
Negotiations on the UN Convention took place between 2019 and 2024, with the European Commission representing the EU and its member states. The final text of the Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 24, 2024, following extensive discussions among UN member states. Earlier this month, on October 13, 2025, the Council of the European Union authorized the Commission to sign the agreement, completing the formal process that enabled the EU’s participation in the treaty.
Convention aligns international definitions of online offences
The Convention seeks to close existing legal and operational gaps in combating cybercrime at a global level. It establishes uniform definitions of cyber offenses and provides for the harmonization of legal standards related to digital investigations. It also introduces safeguards to ensure the protection of human rights and privacy while facilitating access to electronic evidence during cross-border investigations.
The treaty will enter into force once it has been ratified by at least 40 countries. Until that threshold is reached, its provisions will serve as a reference framework for states developing or updating national cybercrime laws. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which serves as the custodian of the Convention, will oversee its implementation and support member states through technical assistance and capacity-building programs.
The European Union’s participation in the Convention reinforces its commitment to international cooperation on digital security and law enforcement. It also complements ongoing initiatives under the EU Cybersecurity Strategy and the Digital Services Act, which aim to increase resilience against online threats and enhance accountability for online platforms and service providers.
Cross-border cooperation key to fighting cyber threats
Following the signature, the Council of the European Union will begin discussions on the formal conclusion of the Convention, which will require approval by the European Parliament. Each EU member state will then proceed with national procedures for signature and ratification. Once in force, the Convention is expected to establish a global framework enabling authorities to respond more effectively to cybercrime incidents and improve coordination among nations.
The signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime represents one of the most comprehensive multilateral efforts to address cyber threats in recent years, bringing together countries with diverse legal systems under a common commitment to safeguard the digital environment. It underscores a shared international resolve to prevent cyberattacks, protect victims, and enhance digital trust and security worldwide. – By EuroWire News Desk.