Top EU formal vows to ‘stress test’ pipelines soon after leaks
BRUSSELS — The head of the European Union’s executive arm vowed Wednesday to introduce checks on vital EU infrastructure, together with power, just after the suspected sabotage of purely natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported the hurt very last week to the Nord Stream pipelines that operate from Russia to Germany has “revealed how vulnerable our energy infrastructure is” and a detailed system is desired to be certain the protection of key EU networks, which includes for knowledge.
“We need to worry test our infrastructure,” von der Leyen informed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. “We require to determine regardless of whether we have weak points and in which these weak factors are.” She also said that satellite surveillance will be employed to detect likely threats.
Amid Russia’s 7-month war towards Ukraine and Western armed forces aid for the Ukrainian govt, undersea explosions very last 7 days ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were developed to carry gas from Russia to Germany.
Mainly because member nations around the world are accountable for overseeing electrical power and other standard infrastructure within the EU, von der Leyen reported her security drive would include nationwide capitals.
“We will do the job with member states to make certain successful worry exams in the energy sector,” she said. “This, then, really should be followed by other large-possibility sectors, these as the offshore electronic and electricity infrastructure.”
The Danish and Swedish governments have said that various hundred pounds of explosives have been used to destruction the twin pipelines at two spots off Sweden and two off Denmark past week. The leaks discharged huge quantities of methane into the air.
“The detonations have to be found in the gentle of the deteriorating security circumstance in Europe. We have every explanation to feel that this is deliberate sabotage,” Swedish International Minister Ann Linde mentioned Wednesday. “At present, we cannot make sure which actor is liable.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West on Friday of attacking the pipelines, which the United States and its allies vehemently denied.
Danish authorities stated the two leaks they ended up monitoring in intercontinental waters stopped more than the weekend. One particular of the leaks off Sweden also appeared to have ended.
The Swedish coast guard explained Wednesday the dimension of the remaining leak from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was “somewhat smaller” and “gives the impression of reducing.”
Sweden has deployed a vessel capable of innovative diving missions earlier mentioned the leak, whilst it was unclear when possibly a diver or a submarine would go down to do an inspection.
Sweden’s coastline guard has just one of its vessels on web page all over the clock to observe sea site visitors in the spot.
Sweden’s prosecuting authority and the Swedish Stability Products and services are heading an investigation. Copenhagen law enforcement were being in cost of an inquiry in in shut cooperation with Denmark’s strength authorities, the Countrywide Law enforcement and the Danish Law enforcement Intelligence Provider.
Also in Strasbourg on Wednesday, EU international policy chief Josep Borrell predicted that the bloc’s 27 countrywide governments would concur to hit Russia with new sanctions in reaction to its illegal annexation of 4 areas in Ukraine that make up close to 15% of Ukrainian territory.
The planned new penalties include a price cap on Russian oil, curbs on EU exports of aircraft elements to the place and limits on imports of Russian metal. EU member-state diplomats were aiming to approve the new package as before long as Wednesday in Brussels.
The new penalties make on presently unprecedented European sanctions versus Russia as a final result of its war towards Ukraine considering that February.
EU steps to date include things like limits on strength provides from Russia, bans on economic transactions with Russian entities including the central bank and asset freezes in opposition to additional than 1,000 folks and around 100 entities.
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Stick to AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BRUSSELS — The head of the European Union’s executive arm vowed Wednesday to introduce checks on vital EU infrastructure, together with power, just after the suspected sabotage of purely natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported the hurt very last week to the Nord Stream pipelines that operate from Russia to Germany has “revealed how vulnerable our energy infrastructure is” and a detailed system is desired to be certain the protection of key EU networks, which includes for knowledge.
“We need to worry test our infrastructure,” von der Leyen informed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. “We require to determine regardless of whether we have weak points and in which these weak factors are.” She also said that satellite surveillance will be employed to detect likely threats.
Amid Russia’s 7-month war towards Ukraine and Western armed forces aid for the Ukrainian govt, undersea explosions very last 7 days ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were developed to carry gas from Russia to Germany.
Mainly because member nations around the world are accountable for overseeing electrical power and other standard infrastructure within the EU, von der Leyen reported her security drive would include nationwide capitals.
“We will do the job with member states to make certain successful worry exams in the energy sector,” she said. “This, then, really should be followed by other large-possibility sectors, these as the offshore electronic and electricity infrastructure.”
The Danish and Swedish governments have said that various hundred pounds of explosives have been used to destruction the twin pipelines at two spots off Sweden and two off Denmark past week. The leaks discharged huge quantities of methane into the air.
“The detonations have to be found in the gentle of the deteriorating security circumstance in Europe. We have every explanation to feel that this is deliberate sabotage,” Swedish International Minister Ann Linde mentioned Wednesday. “At present, we cannot make sure which actor is liable.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West on Friday of attacking the pipelines, which the United States and its allies vehemently denied.
Danish authorities stated the two leaks they ended up monitoring in intercontinental waters stopped more than the weekend. One particular of the leaks off Sweden also appeared to have ended.
The Swedish coast guard explained Wednesday the dimension of the remaining leak from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was “somewhat smaller” and “gives the impression of reducing.”
Sweden has deployed a vessel capable of innovative diving missions earlier mentioned the leak, whilst it was unclear when possibly a diver or a submarine would go down to do an inspection.
Sweden’s coastline guard has just one of its vessels on web page all over the clock to observe sea site visitors in the spot.
Sweden’s prosecuting authority and the Swedish Stability Products and services are heading an investigation. Copenhagen law enforcement were being in cost of an inquiry in in shut cooperation with Denmark’s strength authorities, the Countrywide Law enforcement and the Danish Law enforcement Intelligence Provider.
Also in Strasbourg on Wednesday, EU international policy chief Josep Borrell predicted that the bloc’s 27 countrywide governments would concur to hit Russia with new sanctions in reaction to its illegal annexation of 4 areas in Ukraine that make up close to 15% of Ukrainian territory.
The planned new penalties include a price cap on Russian oil, curbs on EU exports of aircraft elements to the place and limits on imports of Russian metal. EU member-state diplomats were aiming to approve the new package as before long as Wednesday in Brussels.
The new penalties make on presently unprecedented European sanctions versus Russia as a final result of its war towards Ukraine considering that February.
EU steps to date include things like limits on strength provides from Russia, bans on economic transactions with Russian entities including the central bank and asset freezes in opposition to additional than 1,000 folks and around 100 entities.
———
Stick to AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
