Funding will be allocated towards modernizing communication lines on the seabed, enhancing resilience against threats to these vital infrastructures.

Recent incidents in the Baltic Sea, including damage to the C-Lion 1 data cable, have raised security concerns and led to investigations into potential sabotage by Russian vessels.

By the end of 2025, the EU plans to finalize a prioritized list of European interest cable projects to further bolster security.

Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, highlighted the importance of deterring threats and ensuring quicker repairs for damaged cables.

The European Union is set to enhance security measures for underwater cables, responding to accusations of hybrid warfare by Russia and aiming for improved detection and response capabilities.

The EU will enhance maritime threat monitoring capabilities in key regions such as the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas to improve situational awareness and response times.

This initiative, announced by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, includes a comprehensive action plan to prevent and address sabotage of undersea cables.

To deter hostile actors, the EU will implement sanctions and diplomatic measures, recognizing the critical role that undersea cables play in handling 99% of transcontinental internet traffic.

The existing crisis framework will be expanded to ensure rapid EU-level responses to incidents, alongside increased repair capacities.

Collaboration with private companies, which manage about 60% of fiber optic cables, will be crucial for improving incident prevention and communication.

Amidst these developments, the Kremlin expressed agreement with U.S. positions on the need to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine, while Russian President Putin indicated readiness to resume negotiations.

Support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been voiced by the EU, Paris, London, and the UN, particularly in light of derogatory comments made by former President Trump.