Melike Pala
19 December 2025•Update: 20 December 2025
BRUSSELS
EU leaders on Thursday "strongly" condemned all recent hybrid attacks targeting the bloc and member states, citing an intensified campaign by Russia and Belarus.
They urged "accelerated efforts to strengthen resilience."
In conclusions adopted on certain items while a leaders' meeting is ongoing in Brussels, the European Council said the EU must accelerate efforts to strengthen its resilience, better protect critical infrastructure and enhance its capacity to prevent, deter and respond to hybrid threats across the bloc.
"The European Council strongly condemns all recent hybrid attacks against the European Union and its Member States," it said, adding that the bloc is prepared to use all relevant policies and instruments, including the possibility of further restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus.
EU leaders warned that hybrid threats, ranging from cyberattacks and disinformation to sabotage of critical infrastructure, pose a growing risk to the bloc’s security, underlining that the war in Ukraine and its broader repercussions continue to represent an "existential challenge" for European and global security.
Against that backdrop, the leaders took stock of progress on strengthening European defense and security, including efforts to boost defense readiness, reduce strategic dependencies and address key capability gaps.
- Middle East
The EU leaders also addressed developments in the Middle East, calling on all parties to fully implement a UN resolution in line with international political and legal principles and stressed the need to stabilize the security environment in the Gaza Strip.
Reaffirming its commitment to international law, the EU reiterated its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution, in which "Israel and Palestine live side by side within secure and recognized borders."
The leaders emphasized the need for the rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza, as they urged Israel not to implement its NGO registration law in its current form.
"The European Council strongly condemns the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, including violence against Christian communities, and the policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," said the statement.
It also urged respect for the status quo of Jerusalem's holy sites and called for further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and entities supporting them.
On Syria, the leaders reiterated support for a peaceful and inclusive transition one year after the fall of the Assad regime, warning against "foreign interference," and stressing the need to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
