In a resolution adopted last week, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) condemned Russia’s “reckless and escalatory actions” of violating the airspace of EU and NATO member states Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
They also denounced what they described as deliberate drone incursions aimed at critical infrastructure in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
These incursions, MEPs said, are part of Russia’s “systematic military and hybrid warfare and provocations against the EU” and its member states.
Russia bears "full and unequivocal responsibility" for the actions in Polish, Estonian and Romanian air spaces, the resolution said.
MEPs urged the EU and its member states to take “coordinated, united and proportionate action against all violations of their airspace, including shooting down airborne threats."
They welcomed the concept of an EU drone wall and the Eastern Flank Watch initiatives while underlining the need to ensure comprehensive coverage of all member states facing direct security challenges along its southern flank.
The resolution said that the range of Russian sabotage and hybrid activities against the EU "amounts to state-sponsored terrorism, even if they fall below the threshold of an armed attack."
'Critical Western components still find their way to Russia'
The EU must show resolve and signal that any third country attempting to violate member state sovereignty will immediately face retaliation, the resolution also said.
EU lawmakers called for increased "effectiveness and impact of sanctions on Russia, to definitively undermine the country’s ability to continue waging its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine."
The resolution said that punitive measures "should extend to all the states enabling Russia’s actions, such as Belarus, Iran and North Korea," with MEPs also advocating for sanctions against "Chinese entities suppling dual-use goods and military items, essential for the manufacturing of drones and missiles."
The resolution warned that "critical Western components still find their way to Russia" via countries such as China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Serbia.
In their resolution, MEPs emphasised the need for "stronger civil-military airspace coordination" and "better equipping police forces and civilian authorities with the means to detect and defend against drones."
The EU parliament also called for the EU and its member states to equip authorities with the appropriate means to counter drones at critical infrastructure sites such as airports and power plants.
Learning from Ukraine
The resolution called for deeper defence cooperation with Ukraine, especially in drone technology and countermeasures, including enhancing industrial cooperation. It also urged legislative steps to commit funds to learn from Ukraine and to support Kyiv on unmanned aerial vehicles.
The resolution was adopted by 469 votes in favour, 97 against, and 38 abstentions, according to the European Parliament's website.
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Source: IAR, PAP, europarl.europa.eu