Sea Lion submarine cable (C-Lion) installation vessel Ile de Brehat. Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva
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Finland has expressed full support for the European Union’s new action plan aimed at strengthening the security of submarine communication and electricity cables across the bloc.
The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed the position in a briefing to Parliament on 25 April, following the release of the EU’s joint communication on 21 February 2025. The communication outlines a strategy known as the EU Action Plan on Cable Security, developed under the wider Preparedness Union framework.
The strategy centres on four key pillars: prevention, detection, response and recovery, and deterrence. It aims to secure both digital and power infrastructure undersea, with particular attention to the growing risks posed by the so-called “shadow fleet” — vessels operating under opaque ownership and regulatory conditions.
Finland said it supports the proposed actions, especially those recognising the unique strategic and environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea. It considers the enhancement of cable repair capabilities as one of the most urgent and important elements of the plan.
The government said it was essential that the Baltic Sea be given priority when planning for the availability of repair fleets. It also endorsed the EU’s proposal to allocate funding from the current Multiannual Financial Framework to boost both the security and repair readiness of undersea cable infrastructure.
The plan includes the establishment of a dedicated fleet capable of operating in ice-covered waters and able to respond to various types of maritime threats, including environmental hazards.
In its statement, Finland welcomed EU funding being directed toward expanding repair capacity and developing surveillance technologies in cooperation with European industry. It also supported improving the coordination and information exchange between EU Member States on cable safety.
The Council’s working groups will now assess the joint communication in the coming months. Finland confirmed that it would actively advocate for its priorities during these discussions in cooperation with the European Commission and other Member States.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
