Brussels – The European Commission presented today (5 February) a new cable security tool comprising risk mitigation measures and a list of cable projects of European interest (CPEI). At the same time, it amended an existing tool to allocate 347 million euros to strategic submarine cable projects.
Submarine data cables are essential to the European economy: they carry 99 per cent of intercontinental Internet traffic, as well as telephone calls and financial transactions. In its action plan on cable security, the EU launched a series of measures to address the growing risks to this critical infrastructure and to counter the increase in sabotage operations. After a series of mysterious incidents involving Germany, Finland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Latvia in just a few months, Brussels decided to take action to prevent, detect, respond to, recover from, and deter.
In a risk assessment published in October 2025, the EU identified various scenarios involving threats, vulnerabilities, and dependencies. The new instrument outlines six strategic measures and four technical and support measures. It specifies 13 areas for public funding of projects of common interest to strengthen the resilience of submarine cables until 2040.
The Commission has also amended the Connecting Europe Facility – Digital Work Programme to allocate 347 million euros for strategic submarine cable projects. The change includes a call for proposals worth 20 million euros to enhance Europe’s repair capacity, which opens today (5 February). The call will fund adaptable modules for submarine cable repair. These modules will be located in ports or shipyards to quickly restore submarine cable services. This is the first phase of a broader initiative planned for all major sea basins in the European Union, including the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic. Calls for proposals will only be open to public bodies with an “emergency response” mandate, such as those active in civil protection, national emergency response agencies, coast guards, and navies.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
