Press release 19 December, 2024
New research, published by Mistra Geopolitics, shows that growing security, environmental and geopolitical challenges pose increased threats to marine infrastructure on which European societies rely.
Marine infrastructure plays a vital role in European societies, supporting energy production, communication, transport, and emerging sectors such as offshore renewable energy and aquaculture. However, it is increasingly vulnerable to a growing array of security, environmental, and geopolitical challenges.
Offshore wind energy exemplifies a growing trend in the EU, with a rapid growth between 2010 and 2020 and poised for further expansion in the coming decade.
Addressing countries’ security challenges like damage to marine infrastructure, environmental risks, and cyber attacks – requires stronger collaboration and a unified approach in the Baltic Sea region and among EU’s member states,” said author Frans Sjölander, Project Manager for research on the Blue Economy at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
The Blue Economy contributes substantially to the EU’s GDP and employed over 4.5 million people in 2020, according to the European Commission’s Blue Economy Report 2023.
Key trends affecting important sectors
Five key trends of growing importance are identified by the new research, impacting established sectors such as shipping, fisheries, offshore energy and maritime transport:
- Accidental damage to marine infrastructure
- Sabotage and cyber-attacks
- Impact on sensitive ecosystems
- Challenges in data sharing
- Trust and knowledge exchange
Policy measures for EU countries
To address these challenges and trends, the authors recommend five policy measures for countries in the Baltic region and the EU:
- Address security concerns
- Strengthen regional implementation of EU’s Blue Growth strategy
- Enhance regional collaboration
- Balance data transparency and security
- Foster formal and informal dialogues
Our research shows that security challenges in the maritime domain cannot be addressed in isolation. Policies must balance environmental, economic and geopolitical factors to ensure sustainable and secure infrastructure development,” said author Karina Barquet, researcher in Mistra Geopolitics and leader of SEI’s Water, Coasts and Ocean research team.
Read the policy brief Navigating security challenges: the future of marine infrastructure in European seas.
For interviews or information, please contact:
Ylva Rylander, Press Contact for Mistra Geopolitics, Stockholm Environment Institute
[email protected], +46 (0) 73 150 3384
Maria Cole, Communications Lead for Mistra Geopolitics, Stockholm Environment Institute
[email protected], +46 (0) 70 224 2022
Authors and acknowledgment
The Mistra Geopolitics policy brief is written by Frans Sjölander, Karina Barquet and Maria Sköld at Stockholm Environment Institute. This policy brief is a deliverable of Mistra Geopolitics phase II, research theme Sustainable Oceans.
