The European Commission will redirect almost a billion euros within its budget to boost surveillance of undersea cables and establish a fleet of emergency repair vessels, the Commission's executive vice president said on Friday.
A series of recent incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines have been damaged, most likely on purpose, sparked concern about European governments.
“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,” said Henna Virkkunen, the executive vice president in charge of security at the Commission.
In its action plan, the Commission pledged action to deter, prevent, detect and respond to cable damage. The reallocated budget cash would be used to develop a new data-sharing surveillance mechanism and drone program.
It also outlined a goal to ensure supplies of spare parts for broken cables and to work towards the creation of an emergency reserve fleet “to deploy or repair electric or optical submarine cables.”
“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,” said Henna Virkkunen, the executive vice president in charge of security at the Commission.
In its action plan, the Commission pledged action to deter, prevent, detect and respond to cable damage. The reallocated budget cash would be used to develop a new data-sharing surveillance mechanism and drone program.
It also outlined a goal to ensure supplies of spare parts for broken cables and to work towards the creation of an emergency reserve fleet “to deploy or repair electric or optical submarine cables.”
New NATO command in Finland
The announcement comes amid Nordic countries’ rising concerns about security and NATO members’ joint push for increased military deterrence.
On Friday, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said a new NATO command for Nordic units will be established in Finland’s southeastern town of Mikkeli.
The command will oversee Northern European Land forces and will enable NATO to conduct exercises and land operations in Northern Europe more effectively, the minister said.
He added: “It is also a signal to Russia that Finland is a full-fledged NATO member. NATO's role in Finland’s defense is strong, and Finland’s defense capabilities are growing year by year.”
Finland joined NATO in 2023 and is crucial in the military alliance’s defense policy against Russia, with which it shares a 1,300 km long border.
On Friday, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said a new NATO command for Nordic units will be established in Finland’s southeastern town of Mikkeli.
The command will oversee Northern European Land forces and will enable NATO to conduct exercises and land operations in Northern Europe more effectively, the minister said.
He added: “It is also a signal to Russia that Finland is a full-fledged NATO member. NATO's role in Finland’s defense is strong, and Finland’s defense capabilities are growing year by year.”
Finland joined NATO in 2023 and is crucial in the military alliance’s defense policy against Russia, with which it shares a 1,300 km long border.
Protecting critical infrastructure
Last month, NATO said that some of its member countries were deploying frigates, patrol aircraft and naval drones in the Baltic Sea to help protect critical infrastructure.
On Friday, Swedish police said they were investigating a suspected case of sabotage involving an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea.
“We know that this is a threat for our security and for our environment, not only in the Baltic Sea area, but all over the European Union,” Virkkunen told reporters in Helsinki.
On Friday, Swedish police said they were investigating a suspected case of sabotage involving an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea.
“We know that this is a threat for our security and for our environment, not only in the Baltic Sea area, but all over the European Union,” Virkkunen told reporters in Helsinki.
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