EU Braces for Hybrid Attacks: New Sanctions Regime in the Works

EU countries are drafting a new sanctions regime to counter hybrid attacks, including cyber activities and disinformation. During a meeting, leaders will discuss such measures alongside other critical issues like the war in Ukraine. The initiative, driven by Lithuania, particularly targets Russia's destabilizing actions abroad.

EU countries are looking to set up a new sanctions regime to counter hybrid attacks such as sabotage, cyber activities and disinformation campaigns, draft European Council conclusions showed on Wednesday. European Union leaders will meet on Thursday and Friday to discuss critical issues including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence and recent political events in Georgia.

The leaders will also discuss a new framework to target hybrid attacks that have been rising over the last year. "The European Council strongly condemns all types of hybrid activities... including intimidation, sabotage, foreign information manipulation and interference, disinformation, malicious cyber activities and the instrumentalisation of migrants by third countries," the draft conclusions stated.

"In response to Russia's destabilising actions abroad, the European Council reiterates its call for work to be taken forward in the Council to establish a new sanctions regime." Lithuania, in particular, has been pushing the EU to take a more robust approach towards such attacks.

NATO said in May it was "deeply concerned" about recent hybrid attacks that affected the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Britain. The U.S.-led military alliance blamed Russia for the attacks. Moscow regularly denies Western accusations that it is involved in hybrid attacks.

EU officials said earlier this year most member states were ill-prepared to combat media manipulation.

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