European Union Calls for Security Mechanism Against Hybrid Threats

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that a joint security mechanism, similar to NATO, must be established to combat the increasing drone violations, acts of sabotage, and cyberattacks across Europe.

Call for Joint Security

Speaking in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe needs its own anti-hybrid playbook and that consensus must be urgently reached on how to respond to specific incidents.

Rising Security Threats

Authorities in Germany, Denmark, and Poland have accused Russia in recent weeks of drone violations, sabotage, arson, surveillance of defense facilities, and planning an airport attack with an explosives-laden drone.

Italian fighter jets shot down a drone over Lithuania earlier this week, marking the first recorded instance of a drone being shot down within European Union airspace.

NATO's Article 4 to Be Modeled

The proposed system will feature a structure similar to Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows member countries to hold emergency consultations when they feel their territory is under threat.

European Security Council

Ursula von der Leyen also stated that the European Commission will put forward ideas to turn a European Security Council into reality.

It was noted that this council would include other international partners such as the UK, Canada, Norway, and Ukraine, though no details were provided yet.