Apparently no one in the EU Parliament believed in coincidences on Wednesday afternoon. The damage to various maritime data cables in the Baltic Sea, including the Sea-Lion 1 cable between Germany and Finland, is still being investigated. However, in the debate on the security of critical infrastructure, most speakers left no doubt that this was an act of sabotage and Russia was suspected of being the mastermind behind it. The Federal Defense Ministry also gave this information immediately afterwards. But what can be done about it? This was the question around which most of the speeches revolved.
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EU Commissioner Helena Dalli argued that the EU should play a decisive role in the face of hybrid threats. It is true that it is the national infrastructure that has been damaged. Of course, the implications affect the entire EU: “We can’t just stand by and watch,” he said.
Expectations of member countries
According to the EU Commissioner, tools are already in place to improve the overall security of data cables and critical infrastructure with the Cybersecurity Act and the CyberSolidarity Act. The only problem is that many Member States have not yet implemented the directive into national law. This must happen quickly now. The Commission is also proposing a stress test in the energy sector to identify weak points and better prepare against acts of sabotage. It is also necessary to create better coordination between states and other actors. “We need an overview and improve resilience.”
Since data cables are also important to the global economy, stronger cooperation should also be sought with NATO and the remaining G7 countries.
MPs are demanding strict action
Many of the speeches in the subsequent debate mostly supported the Commission, but in some cases went even further. There was talk of undersea surveillance with sensors or underwater drones, reinforced submarine cables and satellite options. It should also be possible to intercept suspicious vessels, such as the existing Chinese cargo ship “Yi Peng 3”, so that they can be examined and investigated if they are involved in acts of sabotage. A Chinese ship coming from Russia came suspiciously close to the cable from where it was cut. According to experts, for example, maritime law makes it difficult for authorities to bring it into Swedish territorial waters.
Representatives of the Baltic states said at the discussion that Russia was also suspected of large-scale disruption of satellite navigation in the Baltic Sea region. As a result, air traffic has already been disrupted.
“There is no chatting and conversation anymore”
Finland’s MEP pointed out that Russia is mapping critical infrastructure such as drinking water supplies and cable connections. The EU must appear united. Or as FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) said: “No more nonsense and talk, now action must be taken.”
(MKI)
