Our energy and communication infrastructure in the Baltic Sea is under attack. Ships from Russia’s shadow fleet are deliberately and repeatedly damaging undersea cables and pipelines—causing potentially devastating consequences for our economy, security, and environment. After two attacks in the Baltic Sea last November, recently, more incidents followed: two tankers ran aground near Rügen, risking an oil spill in the Baltics. A week later, another undersea cable was attacked between Latvia and Sweden.
The Baltic Sea – a security hotspot
In January, the European Parliament discussed how to respond to the worsening security situation. For too long, the Baltic Sea was only seen as a peaceful region, a popular holiday destination. But those days are over. Every month, hundreds of ships from Russia’s shadow fleet pass through our waters. These ships are old, barely seaworthy, and often uninsured. They frequently change flags to hide their origin and ownership. They are not just prone to accidents by chance — they are tools of deliberate sabotage.
In my speech, I emphasized that these attacks strike at the heart of our critical infrastructure. They can cause power and internet outages, paralyze businesses, and create chaos in our society. A well-planned attack could affect millions of people — with severe economic and security consequences.
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More InformationNo time for hesitation – we have to act now
The creation of NATO’s Baltic Task Force and the new Baltic Sentry Mission show that Europe understands the urgency of the situation. Crucially, this mission is entirely led by European forces and technologies, sending a clear message: Europe is capable of defending its own security. But that is not enough. We need:
- Sanctions against operators and owners of the shadow fleet: Anyone using or supporting these ships must face economic penalties.
- A ban on selling old tankers to states that bypass international rules: This would prevent Russia from upgrading its fleet with decommissioned ships from Europe.
- A strict ban on uninsured ships in EU waters: Ships without insurance should have no access to our ports and shipping routes.
