As submarine incidents multiply in the Baltic Sea, the European Commission published, on Friday 21 February, its action plan to strengthen the security of submarine electricity and communication cables. While waiting for future legislation intended to " prevent " "untrustworthy third country actors" from participating in the production and installation of cables by 2026, the European executive is counting on several elements to further secure these pipes through which the majority of Internet traffic passes.
Europe has indeed been " the target of deliberate hostile acts" in recent months, recalls the European Commission. Since the end of November, four submarine cables have been sabotaged in Europe: two at the end of November between Finland and Germany, and between Sweden and Lithuania, another at the end of December between Finland and Estonia, and finally a last one at the end of January between Sweden and Latvia. Ships are suspected of having dragged their anchors to cut the cables lying on the seabed. Experts and leaders directly accuse Russia, which denies any responsibility – investigations are underway.
Increased repair capacities, and increased surveillance of the area
In its communication, the Commission presents a series of possible measures to "prevent, detect, react, repair and deter". It first wants these infrastructures to be the subject of mapping and a risk assessment. The European executive also intends, with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (Enisa) and the 27 EU countries, to define a "priority list of cable projects of European interest".
It also intends to equip existing cables with sensors, in order to locate potential breaks more quickly, and to invest in emergency routes in order to avoid massive breakdowns if a cable is cut. Finally, to monitor the area, the Commission intends to "launch a surveillance drone programme". A fleet of reserve vessels will also be created: these will be able to be deployed quickly to repair the submarine cables connecting European countries. The aim is to "improve the effectiveness of the crisis system for rapid action" and to "increase repair capacities".
For Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the Commission responsible for technological sovereignty, security and democracy, Europe must equip itself to "not only prevent and detect cable sabotage, but also actively deter, remediate, and respond to threats to critical infrastructure that are essential to our economy and collective security». "Sanctions and diplomatic measures against hostile actors" will be taken.
No additional funding planned
To finance these operations, Brussels has not defined new funding. It is planned to reallocate billions from the EU budget and funds already voted, such as the fund supporting the deployment of digital networks or the fund stimulating investments in digital infrastructure, to this action plan.
In parallel, NATO has specified that it intends to deploy a "fleet of naval surveillance drones" as well as frigates and a patrol aircraft in the Baltic Sea to better protect critical infrastructure across the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It should be effective at the beginning of the summer, before the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to be held at the end of June in The Hague, the Netherlands.
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