Hybrid Threats Require a Common European Shield

Synchronised hybrid operations and cyberattacks are increasingly targeting critical civilian infrastructure across Europe. Recent destabilisation efforts have targeted essential systems ranging from schools and regional airports to food cold-chain storage and medical blood supplies, according to a report published by To Vima on 13 November 2026.

Sceptics of deeper integration contend that civil protection and infrastructure security are core national responsibilities best managed by domestic emergency services. Local authorities undoubtedly understand their immediate networks and operational environments best.

Yet modern hybrid warfare deliberately bypasses traditional borders. Hostile actors coordinate attacks across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously to test systemic resilience and create widespread societal disruption. When member states rely exclusively on separate national monitoring, vulnerabilities in one country can quickly spill over into shared supply chains and transport links across the continent.

A integrated European framework for civil preparedness and hybrid threat response would close these gaps. By pooling real-time threat intelligence, establishing common resilience standards for critical assets, and coordinating joint response protocols, member states can build defensive scale without replacing local operational command. Adversaries already treat Europe as a single target area; European security planning must match that reality.