EU braces for 'nightmare scenario' of hybrid attack — media

BRUSSELS, October 7. /TASS/. Ambassadors from 27 European Union countries are discussing a scenario involving a major hybrid attack that would lead to numerous casualties, Politico Europe reported, citing sources.

According to the media outlet, the talks about "a nightmare attack scenario" have taken place in recent weeks in restricted format, without phones or assistants.

"We are strengthening our capacity to anticipate and detect threats, improve early warning and ensure that Europe can respond quickly and collectively when our democratic resilience is tested," European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath said.

According to Politico, "discussions have ramped up since the discovery of an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig airport in August." "The talks among EU diplomats and ministers have focused on deploying emergency response teams, freeing up pockets of EU money to help the affected state, and how EU institution leaders should communicate," the media outlet wrote, citing an EU official.

However, "EU-level discussions are prompting criticism from some capitals that the EU is overstepping its security role and potentially duplicating NATO’s core functions." "It risks being very confusing for decision-makers at all levels," former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said. "If there is confusion or duplication, that risks slowing down the decision-making, which has implications because time is always of the essence," she added.

The EU already has the Integrated Political Response mechanism, which makes it possible to hold emergency meetings involving NATO, the United Nations and other international organizations at the request of an affected country.