The European Parliament has called on the European Union to consider deploying a naval operation in the Black Sea following deadly attacks on civilian merchant vessels off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania and repeated violations of Romanian airspace.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday, October 22, lawmakers condemned Russia's attacks on civilian shipping and warned of escalating security threats in the western Black Sea. The resolution received 432 votes in favor, 52 against and 88 abstentions.
The resolution states that the attacks form part of a pattern of escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine, with consequences for maritime security across the region.
MEPs called on the EU and its member states to consider deploying a naval operation in the Black Sea, citing freedom of navigation and maritime security as essential to protecting NATO's eastern flank, the Black Sea region and the Danube delta.
They also urged NATO to consider a dedicated Black Sea initiative, building on discussions about a proposed 'Black Sea Sentry' framework. The resolution further emphasizes closer security cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye.
The resolution does not specify the potential operation’s size, composition, mandate or deployment timeline. It also does not outline how such a mission would be coordinated with NATO or how it would be funded.
The calls come as attacks on commercial shipping and airspace violations raise concerns about the security of maritime routes and infrastructure in the region.
Support for Drone Detection and Maritime Security
The European Parliament also called on EU countries, working with NATO, to help Bulgaria and Romania improve the early detection and tracking of hostile drones threatening Black Sea shipping.
MEPs urged the EU to accelerate the implementation of its Black Sea maritime security hub initiative, which is intended to strengthen maritime safety, protect critical maritime infrastructure and safeguard the marine environment.
The resolution also calls for unused funding under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument to be directed toward helping Bulgaria and Romania address these security challenges.
Protection of Undersea Infrastructure
Beyond immediate threats to shipping, lawmakers called for stronger protection of submarine telecommunications cables, electricity transmission links and data cable projects in the region.
The proposed measures include enhanced maritime surveillance, closer regional cooperation and rapid-response mechanisms to improve the resilience of critical undersea infrastructure.
MEPs also stressed that the EU's next long-term budget should address a broad range of security and defense requirements, including those affecting the Black Sea region.