The European Union needs to establish its own mechanism for rapid response to security threats such as cyberattacks, diversions, arson, and incidents involving drones. This proposal was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. According to her, the number of such incidents is increasing, and existing mechanisms do not always allow for a swift coordinated response from all member states. Under the proposal, if one EU member state activates the new mechanism, the other 27 countries will have to immediately begin consultations. This is expected to facilitate quicker agreement on joint actions, prevent further escalation, and minimize the consequences of such incidents. This is not about replacing NATO, but rather about providing an additional tool for the European Union. Von der Leyen stated that the new mechanism should complement Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for consultations among allies when security threats arise that do not constitute armed attacks. In fact, the initiative addresses situations that fall below the threshold of military conflict but may affect the security of states. The European Commission President referred to cyberattacks, diversions, arson, and the use of drones as examples. In her speech, von der Leyen also stated that the existing decision-making mechanisms in Europe were created under different conditions and that it is now necessary to assess how well they meet modern challenges. Additionally, the head of the European Commission announced plans to create a European Security Council. It is expected that alongside EU leaders, heads of partner states, including Canada, Norway, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, will be able to participate in its work. The proposed initiatives are yet to be discussed by the member states of the European Union.
