To protect the EU's vital strategic interests, the Commission is launching a Joint Communication to enhance submarine cable security.
Submarine communication cables carry 99% of inter-continental internet traffic. Meanwhile, submarine electricity cables are key to energy security, connecting electricity markets and bringing offshore renewable energy to shore. A hybrid campaign targeting these critical infrastructures may disrupt essential functions and services in the EU with direct impact on our lives.
The Joint Communication has four objectives
Prevention
To reduce the number and impact of disruptive incidents and make it more difficult for any malicious actor to put the security of the Union at risk.
Key actions
Stepping up security requirements and risk assessments on submarine cables and prioritising funding into the deployment of new and smart cables allowing to increase redundancies and therefore resilience.
Detection
Rapid and real-time detection has proven to be one of the foundations to counter sabotage against submarine cables.
Key actions
Enhancing threat-monitoring capabilities per sea basin to build a comprehensive situational picture and allow earlier alerts and responses.
Response and Recovery
Reducing time to respond and repair will strength resilience and act as deterrence.
Key actions
Improving the efficiency of the EU-level crisis framework for swift action on incidents impacting submarine cables and establishing an EU Cable Vessels Reserve to shorten the time to repair damaged cables.
Deterrence
The EU intends to raise costs on the side of malicious actors, with tools to qualify, prove, attribute formally and sanction sabotaging actions.
Key actions
Enforcing sanctions and diplomatic measures against hostile actors and the ‘shadow fleet’, making full use of the Hybrid Toolbox to address hybrid campaigns, and fostering ‘cable diplomacy’ with global partners.
CEF Digital
€420 million already allocated to 51 backbone connectivity projects
€35.6 million have been invested in eight specific submarine data cables in the Atlantic and Nordic region, including the Baltic
€540 million will be additionally invested between 2025 and 2027 to fund digital infrastructure projects, including smart subsea cables, prioritising strategic Cable Projects of European Interests.
Map of cable projects funded in calls 1-3 under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme.
The map may evolve according to the actual implementation of the programme.
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy has invested over EUR 8 billion in EU’s energy infrastructure so far, the majority for electricity cables projects, such as:
Baltic synchronisation: €1.23 billion in total spending > EE, LT, LV, PL
Great Sea Interconnector (subsea): €658 million > CY, EL
Bornholm Energy Island (subsea): €645 million > DE, DK
Biscay Bay (subsea): €578 million > ES, FR
Celtic Interconnector (subsea): €531 million > FR, IE