Sabotage on undersea cables: EU Commission won't just stand by and watch

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Nobody in the EU Parliament seemed to believe in coincidences on Wednesday afternoon. The damage to various undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, including the C-Lion 1 cable between Germany and Finland, is still being investigated. However, in the debate on the protection of critical infrastructure, the majority of speakers left no doubt that it was an act of sabotage and that Russia is suspected of being the mastermind behind it. The Federal Ministry of Defense also made this clear immediately afterward. But what can be done about it? That was the question that most of the speeches revolved around.

EU Commissioner Helena Dalli argued that the European Union must play a decisive role in the face of hybrid threats. It is true that it is national infrastructure that has been damaged. However, the effects affect the EU as a whole: "We cannot just stand by and watch," she said.

Expectations of the member states

According to the EU Commissioner, the Cybersecurity Act and the Cybersolidarity Act already provide instruments to improve the protection of data cables and critical infrastructure as a whole. The only problem is that many member states have not yet transposed the directives into national law. This must now be done quickly. The Commission is also proposing a stress test in the energy sector to uncover weak points and be better prepared against acts of sabotage. It is also necessary for states and other players to coordinate better. "We need an overview and must improve resilience."

As the data cables are also important for the global economy, greater cooperation with NATO and the other G7 countries must also be sought.

Members of parliament call for tougher action

The majority of the numerous speeches in the subsequent debate supported the Commission, but some went even further. There was talk of undersea surveillance with sensors or underwater drones, reinforced submarine cables and satellite alternatives. It should also be possible to get hold of suspicious ships, such as the current Chinese freighter "Yi Peng 3", to inspect them and investigate whether they are involved in acts of sabotage. The Chinese ship, which came from Russia, came suspiciously close to the cable where it was severed. According to experts, maritime law makes it difficult for the authorities to bring it into Swedish territorial waters, for example.

Representatives of the Baltic states added in the debate that Russia was also suspected of massively disrupting satellite navigation in the Baltic Sea region. Air traffic has already been disrupted as a result.

"Talking and talking is over"

MEPs from Finland reported that Russia was mapping critical infrastructure such as drinking water supplies and cable connections. The EU must stand united. Or as FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) put it: "No more talking and talking, now is the time for action."

(mki)