The countries of the North Sea have agreed to work together to reach an agreement that will target key underwater infrastructure such as pipelines and cables, communications networks and wind farms. This is reported by Bloomberg, which received the minutes of the meeting held in Ostend, Belgium, on Monday. Among other things, it was decided to allow the use of drones that will monitor these sensitive points that can become victims. Russian diversion. The plan also provides for the creation of a platform through which information on security incidents will be disseminated across borders and actions to assist countries in the maritime zone will be activated.

After the attacks on the gas pipeline Nord Stream in September members NATO have stepped up their inspections with satellites, aircraft, ships and submarines in the North and Baltic Seas. The Alliance has yet to identify the culprit behind the explosions, but fears are growing that European undersea infrastructure is at risk from a covert Moscow attack in retaliation for the sanctions imposed on him after invasion of Ukraine.

Norway is currently the largest supplier natural gas in Europe and flow disruption is one of the biggest problems extending to other infrastructure such as floating wind farms and power cables. The near-impossible task of protecting underwater infrastructure has come back to the fore after recent actions in the Baltic. “As last year showed, we need to protect our offshore industry,” said the German chancellor. Olaf Soltz journalists in Ostend. “EUROPEAN UNION. and NATO play an important role.”

The threat is growing. Last week the UK discovered attempts by Russian hackers to destroy vital national infrastructure. The Belgian government also recorded an attempt by 30 Russian ships to cross the English Channel while remaining in neutral waters. Among others, it included a frigate, a destroyer and a submarine. The North Sea summit was attended by nine countries, but it is not clear how many of them will sign the agreement, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The EU, according to its president, has formed a joint force with NATO for cybersecurity and infrastructure protection commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The results will be presented at the NATO meeting in July. “The energy sector is increasingly intertwined with geopolitical risks,” warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency. “We see that the authorities have additional responsibilities.”

Investments in renewable energy

Nine North Sea governments, which include Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, have signed a declaration to accelerate the large-scale construction of offshore wind farms. The combined goals are to generate 120 gigawatts of electricity in the North Sea by 2030 and 300 gigawatts by 2050.

Countries will work together to build more power cables connecting floating wind farms to the European grid’s central points. Other areas of cooperation will focus on stimulating the market for renewable hydrogen and encouraging carbon capture and storage, where the North Sea has great potential. “We need power lines to tap into this offshore energy,” said Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.