How does the European Union (EU) frame cybersecurity in its strategic approach? Given the widely recognised supremacy of the US and China in technological advancements and dominance in cyberspace, the EU has been facing the challenge of defining its position towards cyberspace governance, one of the key geopolitical challenges of the 21st century. The present contribution aims to ascertain how the EU frames cybersecurity in its strategic approach. We undertake a frame analysis of EU strategic documents in the cybersecurity realm and identify four frames delineating the EU’s key priorities within the digital sphere. While the analysis reveals oscillations between promises and paradoxes regarding the EU’s ambitions as a digital actor, highlighting tensions between the EU’s human-centred purposes and its strategic geopolitical interests, we emphasise the significance of the human-centred approach as one of four equally pivotal dimensions of the EU cybersecurity policy. By consistently labelling its cybersecurity strategy under the human-centred approach, the EU has been positioning itself as a pioneer in human rights in the digital realm, striving to develop a human-centred digital development model that prioritises individual rights, transparency, and trust. However, this dimension has evolved alongside the EU’s growing ambitions for technological leadership, competitiveness in cyberspace and digital sovereignty. Eventually, the EU faces a fundamental dilemma: maintaining its relevance as a global actor in the digital space while safeguarding its core values, including the protection of individual rights and the promotion of an open and secure cyberspace. This challenge includes reconciling the EU’s pursuit of digital sovereignty with its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive digital environment for all its citizens in the spirit of the human-centred approach.

Policy analysis is inherently complicated due to the lack of universal agreement on what public policy entails or how it should be examined. This intricacy stems from the diverse theoretical and methodological approaches that inform the field. The analysis of digital policies presents even greater challenges, due to the complexity of systems and markets, the global implications and often the geopolitical dynamics associated with. The examination of policy, including digital policy, can be approached and classified in numerous ways. Policy theory literature offers various frameworks and perspectives for understanding and defining policy. In this paper, we utilize typologies based on ontological and epistemological assumptions to offer a framework for investigating the development of EU digital policies. This paper employs both traditional and contemporary policy analysis methods to analyze case studies of EU digital policies. Through this approach, it seeks to enrich the broader conversation on policy formulation and evaluation. The aim is to provide a platform to re-evaluate existing policy frameworks, research methodologies, and advocacy strategies, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders navigating the rapidly changing digital landscape.

This research seeks to examine how the European Union (EU) leverages digital soft power diplomacy to promote its policies and interests in the Mediterranean area. As the geopolitical landscape in the region evolves, marked by rising tensions and competing influences from regional and global powers, the EU has increasingly turned to technology-driven diplomatic tools to maintain its relevance and influence. These tools include digital platforms, social media campaigns, virtual engagements, and data-driven strategies aimed at shaping perceptions, building alliances, and influencing policymaking. By analyzing the EU’s use of these digital tools, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of its strategies in achieving key policy objectives, such as fostering regional stability, promoting cooperation, and countering disinformation. Additionally, the research will explore the EU’s role as an international digital actor, assessing how its digital diplomacy aligns with its broader strategic goals and values, such as promoting democracy, human rights, and multilateralism. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining case studies, stakeholder interviews, and content analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential and limitations of digital diplomacy in modern international relations. The findings will contribute to both academic and practical understandings of digital diplomacy, shedding light on its potential and limitations in modern international relations. Furthermore, the study will provide actionable recommendations for enhancing the EU’s digital diplomatic efforts, ensuring they remain adaptive and impactful in an increasingly digitalized world. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this research aims to inform policymakers, diplomats, and scholars on the evolving role of digital tools in shaping the future of diplomacy.