Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.31-125746/https://www.ft.com/content/f93e86f5-e89d-4652-b1e4-7662222b2b9d

The European Commission plans to strengthen EU policing and law enforcement measures against threats from foreign powers such as Russia that collaborate with criminal networks, under a new strategy on internal security seen by the Financial Times.

In the document to be published on Tuesday, the commission proposes broadening the powers of law enforcement to fight so-called “hybrid” attacks by boosting the EU’s abilities to fight terrorism and organised crime, impose sanctions and gain access to banking information, according to a draft seen by the FT.

The move to strengthen and better integrate the EU’s various internal security organisations comes as the continent simultaneously moves to increase its defence capabilities to counter external threats and reduce its reliance on US support.

“Lines between hybrid threats and open warfare are blurred,” the document says, mentioning Russia’s “online and offline hybrid campaign against the EU and its partners”.