The Council of Europe has authorised the European Commission and member states to sign the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, the body said.
The international treaty establishes common standards to improve cooperation on cybercrime and the exchange of evidence in electronic format to aid criminal investigations or prosecutions. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, and allows the EU and other regional economic integration organisations to sign and ratify it if at least one of its member states does so.
The timing follows a 2024 Europol threat assessment cited in the article that said cybercrime has increased dramatically in volume, intensity and potential for harm, and that electronic evidence has become increasingly important in investigations. As Peter Hummelgaard, the Danish minister of justice, said in a statement issued by the Council of Europe, “computer fraud, large-scale hacking, the scourge of online child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as other forms of cybercrime, are on the rise. With the adoption of this international legal instrument, we have taken an important step forward in our global fight against this type of crime.”
A key aspect of the Convention is the harmonisation among participating countries of the criminalisation of certain conduct related to cybercrime, meaning all countries undertake to criminalise specified acts such as computer fraud or illegal interception in their national legislation. The Convention will also push for the criminalisation of acts related to online child sexual abuse material, grooming and non‑consensual dissemination of intimate images; it is noted that these offences are already criminalised at the EU level but not yet at the international level.
All signatories undertake to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of Convention offences, including the collection and exchange of electronic evidence. That obligation covers cybercrimes and also serious crimes such as international organised crime when they are punishable by a prison sentence of at least four years. The Convention also includes safeguards intended to prevent participating countries from committing or legitimising human rights violations, and expressly excludes interpretations that would suppress fundamental freedoms such as expression, religion or peaceful assembly. Cooperation may be refused if it is considered to be used to commit human rights violations, is politically motivated, would contravene domestic law or is necessary to avoid discrimination.
The Convention will be open for signature from October 25, 2025 until December 31, 2026 and will enter into force 90 days after the deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the article states. The Council presidency will prioritise finalising the relevant Council decision for the EU and its member states to conclude the Convention, with a view to seeking the consent of the European Parliament.