The European Commission released a new action plan that will set up a new security system that will help boosting surveillance of undersea cables and will create a fleet for reparation of cables.
During an event in Helsinki, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen presented together with Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, and Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, a Joint Communication to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables. The joint communication between the Commission and the HRVP on the topic followed the first announcement on the issue made by Ursula von der Leyen at another public event in Vilnius.
The action plan is a response to growing concerns by member states about security at cable systems across the bloc, after growing cases of damages on power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines both man-made and accidental.
“No realm of life is free from threats or hostile behaviour today. Recent attacks against underwater cables underline this clearly,” commented the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Kaja Kallas adding that “we should mobilise all our strengths, military and civil capacities to ensure surveillance and attribute attacks quicker, sanctioning those responsible of sabotage”
It will focus initially on the Baltic Sea, with a regional hub there that will test the new approach. Funding will be coming from existing channels. The system will deter, prevent, detect and respond on possible disrupt on cables, via a surveillance mechanism developed with member states, with drones deployed to monitor status on air and under the sea.
The timeline for the intervention will see the Commission with member states and the EU agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) rolling out specific actions between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. The first ones to be developed by the end of the year include mapping of existing and planned submarine cable infrastructures plus risk assessment measures and other counter measures.
“We want to make sure Europe is equipped not only to prevent and detect sabotage to cables but also to actively deter, repair and respond to any threat to critical infrastructure that is key to our economy and collective security,” said Virkkunen presenting the plan.
