EU to hold joint naval drills amid ‘growing military threats’

by Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Reuters) – The European Union (EU) is keen to hold joint naval exercises as it steps up efforts to protect critical infrastructure at sea, the EU’s Environment Commissioner said. Virginius Sinkevicius.
September’s attacks on Nord Stream gas pipelines have raised concerns about threats to Europe’s maritime infrastructure.

The EU is expected to release an updated maritime security strategy on Friday, in which it plans to hold an annual naval exercise and coordinate countries’ national efforts to protect gas pipelines, undersea data cables, offshore wind farms and other critical infrastructure.

The EU plan aims to strengthen cooperation with NATO, develop coastal patrols and improve data sharing between countries in order to quickly identify threats but also help countries monitor the degradation of the environment and the effects of climate change.

This strategy was already in place before the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipeline, European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius told Reuters, adding that it had been reinforced following the attacks.

“After that, member states were very clear on the need to strengthen cooperation, build capacity and ensure that our critical infrastructure is better protected,” he said.

“The threat level is increasing,” added Virginijus Sinkevicius.

Last month, a Russian vessel was detected at a wind farm in the North Sea, which the Netherlands says is part of Moscow’s attempts to obtain intelligence to sabotage the infrastructure.

(Reporting Kate Abnett; French version Dina Kartit, editing by Kate Entringer)