EU Agencies Network leadership at a time of change in the EU

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News Item Feb 06,2026

As Chair of the EU Agencies Network (EUAN) 2025-2026, ENISA pursued key priorities on implementing the new governance framework of the network, it asserted the role of Agencies as key institutional partner and strengthed cybersecurity across the EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings, leading to greater efficiency through sharing services.

Bringing together 52 EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings, EUAN supports over 14,000 staff located across almost all Member States covering many portfolios. In the first week of February 2026, Agency Directors and leaders on resources and human resources alike joined topical coordination meetings in Athens to discuss ways to respond to challenges at a time of change for the EU. These events brought together the Heads of Agency Directors, Heads of Resources and Heads of Human Resources.

Efficient public management by means of Shared Services

On the sidelines of the Heads of Agencies meeting, the Directors of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and ENISA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reassert cooperation on shared services that had previously been launched as a pilot.

Shared Services have long been scoped and the latest iteration of the pilot in 2026 focuses on selected HR services, cybersecurity compliance, preparedness and response, as well as legal services. The pilot established an operational framework, with a view to bringing about concrete change and to consolidating the experience acquired.

A valued institutional partner

During its term at the coordination help, ENISA proactively interacted with selected EU Institutions including European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, as well as with the European Court of Auditors, and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Member of the European Parliament Mr. Hélder Sousa Silva, Standing Rapporteur of the European Parliament BUDG Committee, visited ENISA’s headquarters for a bilateral exchange with the Executive Director and senior management. The meeting built on the dialogue launched at the EU Agencies Network (EUAN) Heads of Agencies meeting in February 2025, where he joined as a guest speaker on the next EU long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, which heralds EU policy change at a scale.

During his visit to ENISA, MEP Sousa Silva underlined his commitment to work closely with de-centralised Agencies and Joint Undertakings and highlighted the need to balance longstanding EU priorities with emerging ones, while ensuring greater flexibility and cutting unnecessary red tape.

ENISA, has led close collaboration with the European Commission on key HR priorities - encouraging staff performance, attracting and retaining talent, and fostering inclusive workplaces while addressing challenging topics, including aspects of recruitment, staff management and teleworking and financial planning.

Alongside collaboration on increasing efficiency and better resource planning, the focus of the inter-institutional cooperation was on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. These exchanges helped connect policies’ priorities with the concrete ways to deliver tangible results.

Supporting an enhanced cybersecurity

In an effort to step up on user awareness, making available tools and methods to strengthen cybersecurity across EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings has been a standing priority of the ENISA EUAN Chair. In this vein, ENISA supports Agencies in improving cybersecurity preparedness and thus, helps them comply with EU compliance requirements. In the plenary meeting in Athens, gamification in cybersecurity let Agencies’ Directors come to terms with the challenges that cybersecurity response is all about.

EU Agencies Network

The role of the EUAN is to enable structured collaboration across EU decentralised Agencies and Joint Undertakings to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Through closer cooperation, EUAN members deliver better services and build a smarter, safer Europe that meets the needs of all citizens.

EUAN is led by a Steering Board (SB) which in 2025 was composed of the Directors of EIT, CEPOL, ELA, SESAR JU, CPVO as well as Pillar Coordinators from EEA, EFSA, F4E and later CdT; in 2025-26, ENISA chaired the EUAN SB. The EUAN Shared Services Office supports a broad range of cost-effective services to EUAN Board and the Network as a whole.

ENISA has been grateful to all stakeholders for their enthusiasm to contribute to EUAN, be constructive in the face of change and strengthen the EU further. Our wishes for success go to ELA, the incoming Chair of EUAN in the next term.

• EU Agencies Network website
• ENISA to Walk the Walk as EU Agencies Network Coordinator | ENISA Share this page

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