Today, the Commission is adopting a Communication to support Member States to counter hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration by Russia and Belarus and to strengthen security at the EU’s external borders.
The serious and persistent nature of the hybrid threats at the Eastern EU border by Russia and Belarus, pose new challenges for the EU. To guarantee security and territorial integrity in this exceptional context, Member States bordering Russia and Belarus must be able to act decisively. This calls for a strengthened EU response, in full respect of EU and international law.
President Ursula von der Leyen said:
“We have taken another decisive step to support our frontline Member States in countering hybrid threats from Russia’s and Belarus’ unacceptable weaponisation of migration. Especially countries bordering Russia and Belarus, such as Finland with its 1.340-kilometre-long border with Russia, are facing the heavy challenge to guarantee the security of the Union and territorial integrity of Member States. Today we offer these countries further support, including an additional 170 million in funding to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusion. Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us.”
Today’s Communication supports Member States, by setting the framework for actions that should prevent Russia and Belarus from using the EU’s principles and values against the EU.
- Identifying the challenges at the EU’s external land borders with Russia and Belarus and the threat to the Union’s security: Russia and Belarus take advantage of people, using human beings in an act of hostility, disregarding their vulnerability. They use this hybrid warfare as a political tool to destabilise our societies, to undermine the unity of the EU and to jeopardise the safety and integrity of the Schengen area and the security of the Union as a whole. In line with the European Council’s position, with today’s Communication, the Commission is supporting Member States to prevent Russia and Belarus from using European principles and values, including the right to asylum, against the EU.
- Strengthening the EU policy response and operational support: The EU has already taken several steps to counter the instrumentalisation of migrants by Belarus in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in 2021 and by Russia at its border with Finland. Financial, operational and diplomatic efforts, including with the countries of origin and transit, were promptly stepped up.
To further enhance border surveillance at the borders with Russia and Belarus, the Commission is now making available additional funding totalling €170 million: 150 million through the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), and an additional 20 million from the BMVI Thematic Facility for a more extensive geographical distribution. These funds will support Estonia with €19.4 million, Finland with €50 million, Latvia with €17 million, Lithuania with €15.4 million, Poland with €52 million and Norway with €16.4 million to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusions thereby ensuring real-time situational awareness and enhance the mobility of border patrols. - Setting the legal context: Member States have an obligation to protect the EU external borders. At the same time, they must respect fundamental rights and the principle of non-refoulement. In view of the serious nature and persistence of the threat to the security of the EU and the territorial integrity of Member States at the EU external borders with Russia and Belarus, Member States may invoke Treaty provisions to exceptionally and under stringent conditions go further than what is provided for by EU secondary legislation under the control of the Court of Justice. This could include measures that may entail serious interferences with fundamental rights such as the right to asylum and related guarantees subject to the requirements under the Charter. Today’s Communication outlines the conditions for such measures which have to be proportionate, limited to what is strictly necessary in clearly defined cases, and temporary.
- Increasing cooperation with the Union and other Member States: The Commission encourages Member States to carefully weigh all the interests at stake and make use of all the possibilities afforded by the Union’s legal order when taking exceptional measures to tackle hybrid attacks from weaponisation of migration. In light of the principle of sincere cooperation, Member States are invited to cooperate closely with the Union and other Member States. Coordination among neighbouring Member States is also necessary to ensure consistency and effectiveness of any action.
Next Steps
The Commission will always stand by Member States in their efforts to ensure a safe and secure Union with a fully functioning Schengen area, for the benefit of all EU citizens and in full respect of fundamental rights. Member States are encouraged to make use of all the possibilities covered by EU legislation. The Commission is ready to engage with Member States taking exceptional measures, to help ensure that all relevant considerations are taken into account.
Background
In 2024, irregular arrivals at the EU-Belarusian border – especially the Polish-Belarusian border – increased significantly by 66% compared to 2023. 90% of migrants illegally crossing the Polish-Belarusian border have a Russian student or tourist visa.
The EU has already offered significant support to the most concerned Member States and taken a wide range of actions to step-up the EU preparedness to counter this threat. This included financial and operational support and diplomatic and outreach efforts (including with countries of origin and transit).
The Commission also proposed in 2021 measures against transport operators who facilitate smuggling of migrants, and in 2023 the Directive laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the EU. The Commission stands ready to work with the European Parliament and Council to progress swiftly on adopting these proposals.
Read the Communication
More information
Quote(s)
We have taken another decisive step to support our frontline Member States in countering hybrid threats from Russia’s and Belarus’ unacceptable weaponisation of migration. Especially countries bordering Russia and Belarus, such as Finland with its 1.340-kilometre-long border with Russia, are facing the heavy challenge to guarantee the security of the Union and territorial integrity of Member States. Today we offer these countries further support, including an additional 170 million in funding to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusion. Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us.
The situation is exceptional and very serious. Russia uses weaponisation of migration as a new tool in the hybrid war against the EU. We must not allow any hostile state to abuse European values, including the right to asylum. Today’s Communication message is clear: we will always stand by Member States in their efforts to protect the security of our common external borders, in full respect of EU and international law.
Russia has weaponised energy, cyberattacks and now migrants against the EU. The EU response has been firm and decisive. Today’s Communication provides EU Member States with new tools to deal with weaponisation of migration. We must protect the sovereignty and security of the EU.
Source – EU Commission
Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on the Communication on countering hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration and strengthening security at the EU’s external border
Brussels, 11 December 2024
“Check against delivery”
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our College read-out.
Today, the College adopted a Communication on countering hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration and strengthening security at the EU’s external border.
I will be presenting this point to you in a moment.
The Spokesperson’s Service is publishing a press release as we speak, where you will find further details.
Furthermore, we had an orientation debate on EU-US relations. This was the occasion to underline once again the importance of this partnership, which unites 800 million people.
We will continue working on a transatlantic parentship that delivers for our citizens and businesses.
With that, let me move to the main topic of this press conference.
Europe must show solidarity with the Member States affected by hybrid threats resulting from weaponisation of migration and strengthening security at the EU’s external borders. We will provide the necessary support to tackle the challenges.
The Communication is a follow up to the October 2024 European Council where leaders expressed solidarity with Poland and the other Member States faced with these challenges.
Following Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the practice of instrumentalising and weaponising migration started in 2021 and has continued at the borders with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland.
But what we are seeing today is of an exceptional nature: we have a persistent and serious situation at the Eastern border, with a significant rise in illegal arrivals, particularly at the Polish-Belarus border—up by 66% from last year.
Russian authorities are facilitating these illegal movements, with more than 90% of migrants illegally crossing the Polish-Belarusian border with a Russian student or tourist visa. And the authorities are equipping migrants with devices, using violence against border guards. We have moved to the next level of threat. This is why we are speaking about weaponisation of migration.
With today’s Communication we are sending a clear signal of support to the affected Member States.
On the legal side, Member States have a responsibility to protect the external borders. In view of the unprecedented nature of the situation at the external Eastern borders today, they may adopt exceptional measures to defend the external borders. These measures need to be truly exceptional, temporary, proportionate and for clearly defined cases. And they need to be always compliant with international and Union law.
On the operational side, we have our agencies, Frontex, EU Asylum Agency and Europol present at the EU’s Eastern land borders and they are ready to step up. And we are making available today an additional 150 million from the Border Management and Visa Instrument fund. These funds will increase the border surveillance capabilities of affected Member States.
They will be able to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment or counter drone intrusions.
We are also sending a clear signal that rights of the people concerned, often in a vulnerable situation, must always be respected. And the implementation of the Pact, including on instrumentalisation, remains a priority.
Finally, I want to stress: an attack against one Member State is an attack against the entire Union. And Russia and Belarus are constantly changing their tactics, targeting today one country, tomorrow another one. It’s crucial that Member States act together, inform each other, share situational awareness and consult the Commission when taking exceptional measures to counter hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus.
Source – EU Commission
EU-Abgeordnete Lena Düpont (CDU) zur Bekämpfung hybrider Bedrohungen
Zur Mitteilung der EU-Kommission zur Bekämpfung hybrider Bedrohungen und zur Stärkung der Grenzsicherheit erklärt Lena Düpont (CDU), innenpolitische Sprecherin der EVP-Fraktion:
“Wir brauchen dringend robuste Maßnahmen gegen hybride Bedrohungen. Auch die Vorschläge zur Stärkung der Grenzsicherheit sind überfällig. Wir müssen endlich anerkennen, dass Europa sich bereits im Kampf zwischen Autokratien und Demokratien befindet. Autokratische Regime nutzen Schwachstellen an unseren Grenzen aus, um unsere Gesellschaften zu destabilisieren. Dass die Kommission den Fokus auf die Bekämpfung dieser hybriden Bedrohungen legt, ist ein richtiger und wichtiger Schritt.
Europa muss und wird zusammenstehen. Wir stellen uns diesen Herausforderungen gemeinsam, und wir werden sie gemeinsam bewältigen. Dies ist nicht nur eine Frage des Grenzschutzes, sondern eine unserer kollektiven Sicherheit und unserer demokratischen Werte. Menschenschmuggel mit staatlicher oder nicht-staatlicher Unterstützung ist nichts anderes als die zynische Ausbeutung der Schwächsten.
Wir haben einen Berg Arbeit vor uns, und wie immer steckt der Teufel im Detail. Aber wir stehen in den Startlöchern für eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit der Kommission, um sicherzustellen, dass die Vorschläge so schnell wie möglich in konkrete und wirksame Maßnahmen münden. Dass Sicherheit nun endlich in den zentralen Fokus rückt, ist ein klares Signal, dass Europa seine Verantwortung ernst nimmt. Wir haben die Pflicht, die Sicherheit unserer Bürgerinnen und Bürgern zu gewährleisten und unsere Grenzen vor äußeren Bedrohungen und hybriden Angriffen zu schützen.”
Quelle – CDU/CSU-Gruppe im EU Parlament (per E-Mail)