Member of the European Parliament Aura Salla emphasizes that Russia is challenging Europe in the Baltic Sea, and the EU must respond decisively in both the short and long term.
MEP Salla spoke about the Russian shadow fleet during the European Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg on Tuesday 21.1.2025.
MEP Salla calls for more effective sanctions against intentional sabotage, including actions targeting entities that flag and host fleet vessels, as well as investigations into and sanctions against the ultimate beneficial owners of “shadow vessels.” She also proposes that the EU and NATO should utilize AI-based tools to detect suspicious activities near underwater infrastructure and increase their presence in the Baltic Sea.
MEP Salla stresses that Baltic Sea member states should have the right to inspect the cargo and documentation of vessels to determine the origin and destination of the goods.
In the long term, MEP Salla advocates for the creation of a unified regulatory framework for cable protection, reducing dependence on Chinese companies, developing new technologies for cable protection, monitoring, and repair, and strengthening cooperation among EU member states, NATO, and global allies.
“Protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea requires decisive action, collaboration, and technological innovation,” MEP Salla concludes.
Watch MEP Salla´s speech in the Plenary below.