The European Union should consider sending a naval operation to the Black Sea, the European Parliament said Thursday, after deadly strikes on civilian merchant ships off Bulgaria and Romania.
Lawmakers backed the resolution 432-52, with 88 abstaining. In it, they hold Russia responsible for attacking civilian vessels and for carrying its war against Ukraine into the western Black Sea. They also condemned repeated violations of Romanian airspace.
The strikes follow a clear pattern of Russian escalation, the resolution says, with Moscow systematically targeting civilian shipping. Lawmakers blamed Russia above all for the worsening situation in the region.
Parliament’s release did not include a response from Moscow. It also gave no details of the latest attacks, such as casualty figures.
In pressing for a naval mission, lawmakers said freedom of navigation and maritime security are part of securing NATO’s eastern flank, the wider Black Sea region and the Danube delta. They want NATO to look at a Black Sea initiative of its own, building on talks about a possible “Black Sea Sentry.” Closer cooperation among Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey also matters, the text says.
Bulgaria came in for pointed criticism. While praising the quick work of Romanian and Bulgarian rescue services, border police and passing merchant ships that helped vessels, lawmakers raised concern about Sofia’s ambiguous handling of the Russian threat. They also regretted its weak diplomatic response to Moscow.
They called on Prime Minister Rumen Radev to “match demands for allied solidarity with concrete action.” The resolution also tells Bulgaria to stop putting off joining NATO’s anti-drone initiative, Air Defence Capabilities Against Lower-level Air Threats.
Lawmakers also want more help for Romania and Bulgaria. The resolution asks EU countries, working with NATO, to help the two detect and track hostile drones that threaten shipping. It urges the EU to quickly get its Black Sea maritime security hub initiative running. The hub aims to improve maritime safety and security and protect critical sea infrastructure and the marine environment.
Unspent money from the EU’s SAFE instrument should go toward that work, according to the resolution. The bloc’s next long-term budget, lawmakers said, has to cover a wide range of security and defense needs, the Black Sea included.
Undersea cables are another concern. The resolution calls for stronger protection of telecommunications, power and data cable projects now underway. It points to better maritime surveillance, regional cooperation and rapid-response mechanisms.
Lawmakers debated the issue Tuesday. The full adopted text is due out Thursday, according to Parliament.
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