Source: European Parliament
In response to the intensified Russia’s hybrid campaign, the High Representative (HR) and the Commission have taken forward a number of measures in the framework of the EU hybrid toolbox[1] to deter and respond to these operations.
On 8 October 2024[2], the HR issued a statement strongly condemning Russia’s hybrid campaign against the EU and its Member States. The same day, the Council also adopted a hybrid sanctions regime in response to Russia’s destabilising activities[3].
On 16 December 2024, the first package of restrictive measures[4] was adopted against individuals and entities, involved inter alia in foreign assassinations, sabotage activities, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference, spreading Russian disinformation in Europe, Ukraine, the United States and Africa.
In parallel, the HR and the Commission finalised the operationalisation of Hybrid Rapid Response Teams[5] to support Member States and partners to increase their resilience and response to hybrid threats.
As part of the response to instrumentalisation of migrants, the Commission adopted the Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation in May 2024[6].
As stated in the recent Joint Statement by the Commission and the HR[7], the EU is also strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables[8], including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation.
More broadly, the EU will continue to work closely with Member States to improve situational awareness, and maritime domain awareness, ensure the resilience and security of critical infrastructure and take additional measures, to further prevent, deter and respond to hybrid activities threatening EU’s security and stability.
More so, the EU will continue close cooperation with its international partners via relevant formats such as the G7.
- [1] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15880-2022-INIT/en/pdf
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/10/08/hybrid-threatsrussia-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-russia-s-continued-hybrid-activity-against-the-eu-and-its-member-states/
- [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202402642
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202403174
- [5] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/16/russian-hybrid-threats-eu-agrees-first-listings-in-response-to-destabilising-activities-against-the-eu-its-member-states-and-partners/
- [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202401359
- [7] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/joint-statement-european-commission-and-high-representative-investigation-damaged-electricity-and_en
- [8] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/recommendation-security-and-resilience-submarine-cable-infrastructures