The European Union’s Strategy on Hybrid Threats

Abstract

The article discusses and analyses the terminology and gives a description of hybrid threats. Particular emphasis is placed on their diversity, variability and the problematic nature of methods used by an aggressor in order to destabilise the social, political and economic environments against which the hostile activities are targeted. The areas which may be under the influence of hybrid threats have been indicated and many aspects of these threats’ influence on a contemporary countries’ functioning have also been underlined. The main focus of hybrid threats’ considerations is put in the context of the European Union. The related strategic documents have been analysed and the directions of action defined in them, which may prevent or neutralise the consequences of hybrid threats, have been described, as well. Particular attention has been paid to the analysis of the ”Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats”, the strategic document which acts as a map for joint anti-hybrid activities. The directions of action defined in it may, in the author’s opinion, contribute to building up resistance to hybrid threats. Particularly legitimate are activities which aim at providing an appropriate level of situational knowledge, as well as effective exchange of intelligence information among the European Union’s institutions and its member states. What is more, developing the analytical potential and the transfer of knowledge of hybrid threats, which is carried out by joint centres of excellence, may result in a situation where the influence of these threats on the social, political and economic dimension of the member states’ functioning is smaller. Comparisons between the common strategic solutions to hybrid threats and other instruments of the European Union relating to the internal security (civil protection, solidarity clause) have been made in the article. The summary discusses the directions of antihybrid strategic activities, among which developing the awareness of threats and strengthening the social resilience to hybrid threats have been given special emphasis.