Brussels, 22 May 2024
The EU Commission welcomes the Council approval on the Guiding framework for the practical establishment of the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams. This paves the way for such teams to be deployed upon request, in preparing against and countering hybrid threats and campaigns in today’s deteriorating security environment, with increasing disinformation, cyber-attacks, attacks on critical infrastructure, instrumentalised migration, and election interference by malign actors.
Hybrid Rapid Response Teams will now be one of the key instruments to support EU Member States and partner countries in countering hybrid threats as part of the EU Hybrid Toolbox.
As one of the key deliverables of the Strategic Compass, they will provide tailored and targeted short-term assistance to Member States, partner countries and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, drawing on relevant sectoral national and EU civilian and military expertise in countering hybrid threats. To ensure rapid deployment, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) will be used as the operational hub for deployment to partner countries.
Find more information in the Council’s press release, in the Council Conclusions and in the Strategic Compass.
Hybrid threats: Council paves the way for deploying Hybrid Rapid Response Teams
21 May 2024 11:55
The Council today approved the guiding framework for the practical establishment of the EU Hybrid Rapid Response Teams. This paves the way for such teams to be deployed upon request, to prepare against and counter hybrid threats and campaigns.
Hybrid Rapid Response Teams are one of the key instruments to support EU member states and partner countries in countering hybrid threats as part of the EU Hybrid Toolbox. As one of the key deliverables of the Strategic Compass, they will provide tailored and targeted short-term assistance to member states, Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, and partner countries in countering hybrid threats and campaigns.
In a deteriorating security environment, with increasing disinformation, cyber-attacks, attacks on critical infrastructure, instrumentalised migration, and election interference by malign actors, the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams will be an important new capability of the EU to counter new and emerging threats.
Background
The Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, approved by the Council in 2022, calls for the development of an EU Hybrid Toolbox that brings together existing and possible new instruments to detect and respond to a broad range of hybrid threats. This includes the creation of EU Hybrid Rapid Response Teams adaptable to various hybrid threats and drawing on relevant sectoral national and EU civilian and military expertise.
- Council conclusions on a Framework for a coordinated EU response to hybrid campaigns, 21 June 2022
- A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, 21 March 2022