Hybrid threats such as sabotage, political interference and the instrumentalisation of migration will for the first time be explicitly addressed as part of the EU’s internal security policy following today’s approval of ECR Rapporteur Assita Kanko’s report on the European Union’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) by the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

With the security of citizens and businesses in mind, the ISF is one of the three major instruments on which the European Parliament must reach agreement within the framework of the new Multiannual Financial Framework. Kanko secured broad political support for her report in committee, with the EPP, S&D and Renew Groups joining the ECR Group in backing the text.

Kanko said:

“The next parliamentary term will not only see substantially more funding allocated to internal security in the EU. The text approved today also introduces a number of important new priorities.

“With this proposal, we are strengthening Europe’s existing efforts on internal security. For the first time, we are also putting a clear focus on hybrid threats, which are affecting an increasing number of EU countries. In practical terms, this should translate, among other things, into better protection of our critical infrastructure.”

The report also strengthens support for cross-border police and judicial cooperation and for better information exchange, both between Member States and among relevant EU bodies. It also gives greater attention to the instrumentalisation of migration by third countries as a security threat.

Kanko said:

“At the same time, with this proposal we also want to give Member States greater flexibility to deploy financial resources where they are needed most. Subject, of course, to parliamentary oversight, they must be able to respond more quickly to new threats and developments. The new Fund will run until 2034, and the security environment may change significantly over that period.”

The text was adopted with 44 votes in favour, 14 against and 8 abstentions.