The position that maritime security is a priority of the Cyprus EU Presidency was underscored in a EUMC Mini Away Day workshop organised by the Ministry of Defence under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
According to a Ministry announcement, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Ministry of Defence organised an EUMC Mini Away Day workshop on EU Maritime Security Challenges and Opportunities at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus, bringing together senior military representatives, EU officials, operational commanders, and legal experts.
“Discussions focused on the increasingly contested maritime environment and the growing spectrum of conventional, hybrid, and grey-zone threats targeting sea lines of communication, critical maritime infrastructure, offshore assets, and subsea cables”, it said. Attention was given to challenges such as cyber interference, AIS manipulation, shadow fleets, and legal ambiguities that complicate enforcement and attribution, it adds.
The Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Nicholas Ioannides, was a keynote speaker who, according to the announcement, “underlined the operational importance of the international law of the sea as the foundation for lawful and credible maritime action.”
Operational perspectives were provided by EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, “highlighting practical challenges related to force protection, freedom of navigation, and protection of critical maritime infrastructure,” it adds.
“Participants emphasised the need for enhanced maritime situational awareness, stronger civil–military coordination, and clearer legal guidance to ensure coherent and effective EU maritime engagement,” the Ministry notes.
The workshop reaffirmed maritime security as a priority of the Cyprus Presidency and underscored that safeguarding the maritime domain is integral to Europe’s overall security and resilience, it said.
(Source: CNA)
