Security debate in Eisenstadt: Europe is fighting for hybrid threats!

Security debate in Eisenstadt: Europe is fighting for hybrid threats!

On September 13, 2025, around 100 participants at the European Gate in Eisenstadt discussed the security of Europe in the context of the Ukraine War. The event, which was fully sold out, offered prominent panel guests such as the prosecutor Gaby Schwarz, military strategist Markus Reisner and former Foreign Minister Michael Linhart. The central topic of the discussion was the question: "Europe in war?"

Markus Reisner emphasized that Europe and the EU were “in the war”, but not in the conventional sense. The threats would be primarily targeted by hybrid attacks, critical infrastructure, IT systems and the economy. Examples of such attacks are the offensive against German naval vessels, hacker attacks on the London stock exchange and explosive Unterseischer Internet cables. Reisner reported on Russian drones that penetrate Poland's airspace in order to test the EU boundaries and their defense mechanisms.

Threats from hybrid warfare

The increasing number of hybrid attacks is also confirmed by NATO. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea in particular rely on cyber attacks and targeted sabotage to harm the western ally. A current example of this is cut underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, which may have been damaged by sabotage. The NATO countries are increasingly target of such attacks, with intensity and frequency in recent years. In this regard, defense strategies have already been discussed in order to react in good time and to better protect the critical infrastructure, as reported by the [Tagesschau] (https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/nato-treichen-cyber assassination-sabotage-100.html).

In the discussion, the need for a closed EU position was also underlined. Michael Linhart expressed optimism that Europe could develop its own approach to conflict resolution. Christian Sagartz, on the other hand, pointed out the lack of cohesion to ward off hybrid attacks. A call for the factual discussion about the growing was expressed danger, which can be felt in the personal and social areas of life.

EU-internal security strategies

The security situation in Europe also requires rethinking within the EU. Henna Virkkuns, the Vice President of the EU Commission, pointed out dramatic changes in the security environment, including organized crime and hybrid threats. "Proteceu" is a new strategy that aims to improve internal security and focus on early detection and prevention of large threats. The need to protect critical infrastructures and network security will become more and more urgent, since 64 percent of Europeans are worried about their security and demand a determined EU, such as [DW] (https://www.dw.com/de/eu-inere- Sicherheit-Frontex- Desinformation-bechareka- reported.

The EU plans to increase the FRONTEX employee number from 10,000 to 30,000 and to upgrade Europe "massively". Undercover, undercover, are part of the package of measures for the legal enforcement. The aim is to create greater resistance to hybrid threats and to intensify the exchange of information between Member States.

The challenges in front of Europe are diverse. In addition to protection against cyber attacks, dealing with false information and illegal activities on the Internet is also a central task. Securing European values ​​and freedom seems to be increasingly more difficult to achieve in a changing international context.