Liberals strongly condemn Russia's escalating provocations against EU and NATO Member States, including the drone strike that injured civilians in Galați, Romania, as well as repeated airspace violations over Finland and the Baltic States.
Renew Europe has stressed that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a deliberate Russian strategy to intimidate and destabilise Europe.
NATO agreed last week to accelerate concrete drone initiatives for frontline Member States. Allies also flagged growing threats to critical infrastructure in the Black Sea. These decisions will feed directly into the upcoming Ankara defence summit.
Renew Europe has called for the EU's own flagship projects, namely the European Drone Defence Initiative and the Eastern Flank Watch, to now deliver with real capabilities on the ground, not just announcements.
Petras Austrevicius MEP (Liberalų sąjūdis, LT), European Parliament Rapporteur on this resolution stated:
“Russia continues to intensify its hybrid warfare attacks against Europe, particularly targeting countries on the EU’s Eastern Flank. It is doing so openly and is devoting enormous and ever-increasing resources to this effort. Our primary response is to rapidly strengthen our own defence capabilities, with advanced defence technology solutions being particularly essential. It is equally important to continue reducing the aggressor’s ability to continue the war against Ukraine and to carry out hybrid attacks against the EU. To achieve this, we must close the remaining loopholes in the EU sanctions mechanism and include alumina, meaning that Russian-owned factories in the EU would no longer be able to provide materials for Russian cruise and ballistic missile production.”
Renew Europe has also called for deep EU-Ukraine defence industrial cooperation, including through the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, so that Ukraine's battlefield expertise in drone production and counter-drone systems informs European capabilities. Liberals also called for a European Centre of Excellence for Drone Warfare, where Ukrainian instructors pass on their expertise to the EU Member States.
It is vital that Moldova is not left behind, amid repeated violations of Moldovan airspace by Russian drones and missiles, making increased support through the European Peace Facility an urgent necessity, alongside Moldova's inclusion in joint acquisitions under EDIP.
Dan Barna MEP (USR, RO) emphasised:
"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine does not recognise borders, which is why I am issuing an imperative demand for the immediate reinforcement of the Eastern Flank and Black Sea security. We must secure increased funding in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework for anti-drone systems to protect exposed nations, and accelerate the establishment of the Black Sea Maritime Security Centre. Europe's security is defended at its eastern borders - for the sake of all EU citizens."
Renew Europe has stressed the need for strengthening the Eastern Flank along its entire length from the Arctic to the Black Sea, covering land, maritime and air dimensions.
This means building detection, interception and neutralisation capabilities in frontline Member States against drones and meteorological balloons and accelerating the establishment of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub to protect critical infrastructure.
With this in mind, Renew Europe has called for a swift adoption of the 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia. This package must go further by targeting Russia's energy and financial sectors and introducing an EU entry ban for former Russian combatants who fought in Ukraine.
Russia must face the full economic and political cost of its aggression.