EU infrastructure ‘targeted’ for first time in recent history, says von der Leyen
The European Union’s energy infrastructure has become a target for the first time in recent history, Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, adding that the bloc must carry out stress tests of critical infrastructure and make better use of its satellites. monitoring to prevent acts of sabotage. .
“Acts of sabotage against Nordstream pipelines have shown how vulnerable our energy infrastructure is. For the first time in recent history, it has become a target,” the Commission chief told the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg.
Four leaks were detected last week on the two Nord Stream pipelines that connect Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. An investigation is now under water but Western countries say they are most likely the result of deliberate action with Sweden and Denmark writing in a letter to the United Nations Security Council that “at least two detonations” were recorded by seismological institutes.
Von der Leyen described pipelines and submarine cables as “data and energy lifelines” for European citizens and businesses and that it is therefore “in the interest of all Europeans to better protect this critical infrastructure”.
The bloc is currently in the process of updating its Critical Infrastructure Directive which first came into force in 2008 to cover 11 risk areas, including natural hazards, terrorist attacks, insider threats and sabotage, but also public health emergencies like the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
The new law, which still needs to be approved by MPs, is due to come into force in 2024, but von der Leyen said on Wednesday that “we can and must already work on this basis”.
She also said the bloc needed to “test” its infrastructure, first those related to energy supply, but also “other high-risk sectors”, including offshore digital and power infrastructure.
“We don’t have to wait for anything to happen, but we have to make sure we’re prepared and so we need those stress tests.
“We have to identify if we have any weak spots and where those weak spots are and, of course, we have to prepare our reaction to sudden disruptions. What do we do then? Are all news channels in place? Is everyone informed? does this emergency scenario really work in our single market?” she told MEPs.
Finally, she called on the bloc to “make the best use of our satellite surveillance capacity”.
“We have these satellites in place, we have the ability to do surveillance to detect potential threats, so it’s also about prevention and awareness,” she said.
During her address to parliament, the President of the European Commission also developed her proposals to impose a cap on the price of gas used for electricity production in order to reduce citizens’ energy bills. She said such a measure, which must be approved by member states, “would also be a first step towards structural reform, a comprehensive reform of our electricity market”.
She also reiterated her position that the EU would put a cap on the price of Russian gas imported through pipelines.
She ended her speech by dealing with the situation in Ukrainepraising the recent “impressive successes” of the Ukrainian army.
“Now is the time to keep track, to help Ukrainians deal with the invader. A strong and unshakeable Europe will be the only way to stop Putin. Now is the time to keep the course and signal again that we stand by you for as long as it takes,” she said.