{"id":168239,"date":"2025-12-15T15:05:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168239\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"eu-broadens-scope-of-sanctions-to-cover-hybrid-activities","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168239\/","title":{"rendered":"EU broadens scope of sanctions to cover hybrid activities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 15,\u00a0Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The European Union plans to impose restrictive measures against Belarusian individuals who plan, direct, engage in support or facilitate foreign information manipulation and interference, the EU Council has announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s decision comes in response to recent balloon incursions into Lithuania\u2019s airspace from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU will be able to sanction individuals and entities engaged in actions targeted at the functioning of democratic institutions, economic activities or services of public interest of the EU and its member states. The EU will also be able to target the unauthorized entry into the territory of a member state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new criterion also covers actions aimed at interfering with, damaging or destroying critical infrastructure, as well as widespread or systematic actions resulting in the disruption of such infrastructure.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since January 1, Lithuania has recorded a growing number of airspace violations, which increased sharply since October. These incidents involve both drones and meteorological balloons misused for contraband purposes. Launched from Belarus, each balloon carries up to 50 kg of payload, can fly at altitudes of up to 8-15km, and at speeds of up to 100-200km\/h, thus posing serious security and safety risks, primarily to civil aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These incursions into Lithuania\u2019s airspace have disrupted hundreds of flights and inflicted substantial losses to airlines, thousands of travelers and state authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey aim to destabilise an EU member state and to intimidate European citizens through direct threats posed to civilian aviation,\u201d the Council said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of these balloons occurs in the context of a broader targeted hybrid campaign, along with other actions that also include state-sponsored migrant smuggling, it stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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