The Brief: Hybrid threats and Europe's vulnerability

The Brief: Hybrid threats and Europe's vulnerability
Copyright Kacper Pempel
By Joanna GillJack Parrock, Andrei Beketov, Stefan Grobe
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EU Defence Ministers are meeting in Helsinki to discuss how to counter hybrid threats - actions by state and non-state actors to destabilise countries. From disinformation to military incursions, hybrid threats are evolving, so must Europe's response to them, experts say.

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We live in an era of hybrid threats and Europe is vulnerable.

There are government and private actors working to destabilise EU countries.

The methods they use include: disinformation; targeting logistical weaknesses like energy supply pipelines; economic blackmail; terrorism or increasing insecurity.

An EU Commission spokesperson told us that the EU is seeking to counter such threats... 

"Part of the work that is being done is raising awareness that these threats exist and that we need to be able to improve resilience to be able to withstand these threats and be ready in case we need to react," Maja Kocijancic.

Events in Crimea in 2014 are considered by EU experts an example of hybrid warfare. Before annexation by Russia this Ukrainian region was infiltrated by soldiers with no insignia carrying Russian weapons.

"What other Europeans are afraid of is not so much a direct copy-past of the Crimean operation but the use of other disclosed assets...For example, in Finland you had private enterprises buying property. As intelligence service found later, they were connected to the Kremlin," Gustav Gressel from European Council on Foreign Relations explained.

We asked how seriously should Europe take this threat?

"There is a single market, there is the Shengen area. So a lot of permits given to enterprises are valid not only for one country. Basically, – are legitimate to these enterprises, these entities, financial institutions whatever is set up are legitimate to act across entire Union," Gressel explained.

Experts say better coordination is needed across Europe, as the union is only as strong as its weakest link when it comes to countering hybrid threats.

Hybrid threats is one of the key topics discussed by the EU Defense Ministers in Helsinki this week. Finland has a border with Russia. The meeting will be chaired by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini.

And other news in brief...

France is nominating Sylvie Goulard, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, as its next EU commissioner. Currently deputy governor at the French central bank, Goulard is known for her expertise in economics and European affairs. She is one of the most ardent promoters of strenghtening Franco-German ties.

Austria-Germany. Unblocking the inundated Brenner motorway - the focus of crisis meetings in Brussels.The European Commission hosted experts from countries around the key north-south route connecting Innsbruck in Austria to Modena in Italy.

Suggestions include weekend and night bans and strict traffic limits.

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