January 5, Pozirk. Cyprus, holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union from January 1, pledged to uphold “the proper implementation of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus,” the presidency program says.
The document also identified intensified hybrid attacks, including the recent violations of EU airspace, along with Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, as challenges to Europe’s security architecture.
The EU must strengthen its defenses and strategic autonomy amid these threats while reducing dependencies and boosting its capacity to respond effectively and proactively, the document noted. Cyprus also declared readiness to support key defense initiatives and flagship projects of common interest.
Last month, the EU introduced a new criterion for sanctions to cover hybrid activities following tensions caused by incursions of cigarette-smuggling balloons from Belarus into Lithuania.
The new criterion also covers actions aimed at interfering with, damaging or destroying critical infrastructure, as well as widespread or systematic actions resulting in the disruption of such infrastructure.
Under new regulations, sanctions may also be introduced against Belarusian individuals who plan, direct, engage in support or facilitate foreign information manipulation and interference.
Over the past few years, democratic countries have imposed multiple restrictions on Belarus over human rights abuses, alleged vote rigging in the 2020 presidential election, a brutal crackdown on protesters, the forced landing of a Ryanair flight, a migration crisis at the European Union border, as well as support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
