By Geoffrey Latayan
Thirteen European Union transport and digital affairs ministers have urged the European Commission (EC) to respond to widespread reports of interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in EU countries.
The officials from the 13 countries have sent a joint letter to the EC and asked for an immediate and co-ordinated action in response to interference with GNSS originating from Russia and Belarus.
Nations accuse Russia and Belarus of systematic, deliberate action
In a joint letter signed by the ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Slovakia, Finland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Romania, they point out that the GNSS interference cases are not random incidents, but a systematic, deliberate action by Russia and Belarus.
The nations warned that it could be used as a hybrid attack on the strategic radio spectrum, essential for modern technology, regional safety and security, particularly in transport.
Following Lithuania’s initiative, it also asks the Commission to expedite the deployment of interference-resistant GNSS services, enhance the overall resilience of critical infrastructure and strengthen safety and security across Europe.
According to Lithuanian Transport and Communications Minister Eugenijus Sabutis, the EU needs to respond to hybrid threats posed by hostile regimes given the current security environment the region is having.
Member-states should strengthen Europe’s preparedness and resilience through close co-operation, Sabutis pointed out.
“Disruptions to GNSS signals have a direct impact on strategic sectors such as transport, energy, and telecommunications.”
“To prevent potential incidents, we must act swiftly and decisively at the European Union level – not individually, but in a coordinated manner,” he said.
MORE FOR YOU: Bangladesh’s national budget focuses on improving the lives of people
EU ministers call for intensified diplomatic channels to prevent escalation
The ministers urged the 27-nation bloc to increase diplomatic efforts to address the interference and apply pressure on the responsible parties, including legal action against responsible individuals and entities involved in the deliberate interference with GNSS signals, to enhance European safety and security.
Among other immediate actions, the ministers propose to intensify radio frequency monitoring and enhance civil-military coordination mechanisms among member states for shared monitoring, data exchange, and possible response to GNSS interference.
They also advocate accelerating the deployment of interference-resistant GNSS services, particularly the anti-spoofing features of the Galileo programme and for upgrading and modernising conventional navigation infrastructure.
The ministers addressed the letter to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas; Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius; Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas and other members of the European Commission.
The officials classified two types of interference to GNSS – jamming and spoofing – as the methods observed in the airspace of the Baltic Sea Region since 2022.
They noted that it posed a threat to various modes of transport, particularly civil aviation and maritime navigation.
READ NEXT: Ukraine sets Russian bombers aflame in high-stakes drone attack
Newsjustnews writers