MEPs warn of rising Russian, Belarusian hybrid threats
The discussion followed a decision by a Baltic country in October to close border crossings with Belarus after detecting drifting smuggling balloons. Lawmakers said these balloons, combined with suspected Russian drones and recent sabotage, including a railway explosion in Poland, form part of a “coordinated effort” to intimidate EU populations and weaken support for Ukraine.
Several MEPs noted that violations of European airspace have become routine. Juan Ignacio Zoido Alvarez of Spain said Russian drones are appearing “day by day” and called for “urgent anti-drone systems in Europe, technologically functional and affordable.” Nicolae Stefanuta, vice president of the Parliament, highlighted growing anxiety in border communities: "We need defense capabilities. We need anti drone capacities and a European approach to respond to this bullying from Russia."
MEPs called for accelerated efforts on an EU “drone wall,” cross-border detection systems, and real-time intelligence sharing. Belgian lawmaker Hilde Vautmans urged that such a system be in place by next year under European Command, including detection and jamming capabilities: "Will this cost money, of course, but it will be a fraction of the cost that the cost of the military aircraft that have to shoot these drones down now. So we need to do more in our defense budget, and we need to work together with Ukraine colleagues. Every euro that we save today with our counter drone capacity will be paid back twice over in future."
Finnish lawmaker Maria Guzenina emphasized that half measures are insufficient: "We must shield our cables, guard our ports, secure our skies. We must protect our people." Victor Negrescu of Romania added: "Not a square centimeter of European airspace can be breached without consequences," stressing that citizen safety “cannot wait.”
The railway explosion in Poland, described as “an unprecedented act of sabotage” by the country’s Prime Minister, was repeatedly cited as evidence that hybrid attacks are spreading beyond mere intimidation.
Closing the debate, European Commission Vice President Roxana Minzatu highlighted the ongoing “sustained gray zone campaign” and assured lawmakers: "Europe will not be intimidated." She underscored the need for proportional deterrence, saying: "Hybrid warfare is designed to stretch our systems and to test our unity, we must demonstrate that our resolve is stronger than the pressure that is applied against us. We welcome the European Parliament's clear stance that the EU's response to hybrid attacks must match the intensity, must match the severity of the attacks themselves, this principle of proportionality in deterrence is essential."
Minzatu added that the EU will defend all parts of the union “with unity, with capability and with determination.”
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