The European Union wants to hold joint naval exercises under plans released on Friday to step up its efforts to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
Concerns about threats to Europe’s maritime infrastructure have intensified since September’s attacks on Nord Stream gas pipelines, which led to the release of natural gas into the Baltic Sea.
The EU has updated its maritime security strategy, outlining plans to hold annual naval exercises from 2024 and to coordinate member countries’ national efforts to protect gas pipelines, submarine data cables, wind farms offshore wind farms and other critical maritime infrastructure.
EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told Reuters planning was underway before the Nord Stream blasts but was stepped up after the incidents.
“Since then, member states have made it clear that we need to further strengthen cooperation, build capacity and better protect our critical infrastructure,” he said.
The EU plan aims to increase EU-NATO cooperation, increase coastal patrols and improve early threat detection efforts, for example by using satellite programs to detect unidentified ships.
In line with the strategy, the EU will also prepare risk assessments, disaster recovery plans and regional surveillance plans.
“The threat level is increasing,” Sinkevičius said.
Energy infrastructure is of particular concern as Europe expands its offshore wind farms and uses LNG terminals to replace the Russian gas pipeline.
The Netherlands said the discovery of a Russian ship last month near an offshore wind farm in the North Sea indicates that Moscow is continuing its efforts to gather intelligence to further damage infrastructure.
Improving the marine area observation system should also help countries monitor and respond to environmental degradation and the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise.
Authorities in Sweden, Germany and Denmark are investigating explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipeline, built to supply Russian gas to Europe. They said the blasts were deliberate but did not say who could be held responsible.
