Latest news with #CableSecurityToolbox
Euronews
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Brussels sets out plan to protect undersea cables from hybrid warfare
The European Commission on Friday called for the development of more resilient cables as it outlined its plan to protect undersea critical infrastructure following multiple acts of sabotage on submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. The plan, prepared "with urgency in mind", is built on four pillars - prevention, detection, response, and deterrence - to ensure the European Union is prepared for the worst, Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for digital said from Helsinki. The EU executive called for the development and funding of new, more resilient cables that are better able to withstand attacks and for greater cooperation at both the European and international levels to spot suspicious activities, detect incidents earlier, and ensure faster repair. Undersea cables are of crucial importance, with communication cables linking citizens through internet access and electricity cables allowing member states to integrate into shared energy markets. Accidental breaks in these cables are common, but since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, observers have noted that such incidents have increased and are less likely to be accidental, with Moscow the presumed culprit in a number of them. "These incidents have the potential to disrupt vital services to our society (...) and it carries a security risk," Virkkunen said. She also supported the creation of a joint cable surveillance mechanism, which will soon be tested in the Baltic Sea. When it comes to deterrence, the Commission emphasised that sanctions and diplomatic measures should be part of the arsenal. Last December, the EU's External Action Service announced measures against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers that allow Moscow to circumvent a Western ban on imports of Russian sea-borne oil and that is suspected of damaging electricity and data cables in the Baltic Sea. By the end of 2025, the Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs will present a map of submarine cables, a coordinated risk assessment, a Cable Security Toolbox, and a priority list of key cable projects.
Euronews
21-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Poland to ask EU telecom ministers to sign cybersecurity declaration in Warsaw
Poland plans to ask EU member states to sign a cybersecurity declaration at an informal meeting of telecom ministers in Warsaw in early March, Euronews has learned. The text, which is still being discussed, will cover areas such as preparedness for incidents as well as stronger cooperation, according to sources from within the EU institutions. Strengthening cybersecurity in the EU is one of the key priorities of the Polish while they chair EU meetings in the first half of this year. On the agenda for the 4-5 March telecom ministers' meeting, which is 'entirely dedicated' to cybersecurity, will also be the issue of responding to large-scale incidents and crises, strengthening civil-military cooperation in cyberspace and investments. A letter by the Dutch government to parliament earlier this month also hinted at the Warsaw declaration. According to Economy Minister Dirk Beljaarts, the Netherlands will stress that the document should include a reference to 'future proof policy' as the regulatory landscape is developing rapidly. Submarine cables The European Commission said on Friday that it will take action to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables, which form part of Europe's critical infrastructure, following recent incidents in the Baltic Sea. By the end of this year, the Commission and the High Representative are expected to present, amongst other actions, the mapping of existing and planned submarine cable infrastructures, a Coordinated Risk Assessment, a Cable Security Toolbox of mitigating measures as well as a priority list of Cable Projects of European Interest, the EU executive said. Euronews reported earlier this month that 20 out of the 27 EU countries have failed to adopt national legislation that allows cyber rules for critical entities to be in force. The Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2), which was approved back in 2022 with the aim to protect critical entities, such as energy, transport, banking, water and digital infrastructures, against major cyber incidents. Most European countries far behind on critical cyber rules | Euronews During a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week, the Commission called on the member states to urgently implement NIS2 to improve EU preparedness and resilience during hybrid crises - such as the recent attacks on undersea cables.
