The federal government intends to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP as early as this year. For the MR, this increase must lead to a strengthening of cybersecurity.
MR group leader in the Chamber Benoit Piedboeuf calls on the government to invest in and promote cybersecurity as part of the increase in the defence budget: "it is essential for our national, but also European, security that we direct part of the financial effort towards the continued development of our cybersecurity, which is largely built in partnership with ESA."
The ESA cybersecurity centre in Redu indeed plays an essential role in protecting space infrastructure. In the coming months, this centre will ensure round-the-clock oversight of ESA's ground and flight operations. Its presence in Belgium represents a unique opportunity to strengthen our capabilities in cyberdefence and the protection of critical data. Thanks to this ESA presence, a leading European ecosystem is also developing at Galaxia (Idelux Park), working on the cyber technologies of the future, namely quantum cryptography, set to become Europe's digital “shield”. Moreover, this expertise is not “purely space-related” but, on the contrary, transferable to all sensitive economic and social sectors (security, health, finance, aviation, etc.).
With a current contribution of around €293 million per year, Belgium is ESA's sixth-largest contributor. Every euro invested in ESA generates a return of €4.35 for our industry (Belspo), directly financing more than 3,500 jobs in the Belgian space and technology sector. This contribution is therefore not an expense but a strategic and extremely profitable investment.
"Given the context of geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the resulting cyber threats, we must maintain, or even increase, our investment in ESA. I am pleased to see that Minister Matz intends to strengthen a series of programmes between space and defence. We must certainly focus on our own investments in strategic sectors essential to our security in the broadest sense."
"The hybrid attacks we are currently facing are, unfortunately, only the beginning. We must be able to rely on a digital deterrence arsenal equal to the challenges, and that requires a major development of our defence capabilities in cybersecurity. Federal MPs Denis Ducarme and Mathieu Michel, who sit on the defence committee, are already ensuring that this matter becomes a key element of Belgian and European sovereignty," concludes Benoit Piedboeuf.