The use of legal competences for cyber-security policy by the EU

In this paper the following question is answered: how can the EU make optimal use of the different legal competences given the internal and external dimension of its cyber-security policy? I will argue that the optimal use of competence for the EU in its current framework, is a coordinating and supporting role in the policy area of cyber-security. The EU’s conception of cyber-security shall be clarified and the Pre- and Post-Lisbon situations elaborated.