The European Commission has proposed a plan to protect underwater cables, in response to the increasing number of incidents involving damage to cables in the Baltic Sea.
EU authorities have called for the development of more durable cables to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure. On Friday, a plan was presented in Brussels to safeguard this vital component, aimed at countering sabotage activities in the Baltic region.
A recent case of cable damage was reported today. According to Yle, the telecommunications cable C-Lion 1, owned by the Finnish company Cinia, which connects Finland and Germany, was damaged off the coast of the Swedish island of Gotland. The timing of the damage remains unknown, but authorities were informed of the incident on February 20.
The EU’s plan to protect underwater cables consists of four key elements: prevention, detection, response, and deterrence. European Commission Vice-President for Digital Technology, Hennna Virkkunen, from Helsinki, stated that the EU must be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
The European Commission has called for the development and funding of more resilient cables that can better withstand attacks, as well as for expanded cooperation at both national and international levels to detect suspicious activity, identify incidents early, and enable rapid repairs.
Underwater cables play a crucial role: communication cables provide internet access, while electrical cables create a unified power grid. By the end of 2025, the European Commission, in collaboration with the head of EU diplomacy, will present a map of underwater cables and a more detailed protection plan.
