Commission increases submarine cable security with €347 million investment

Submarine data cables, carrying 99% of intercontinental internet traffic, are essential for modern life and the European economy. As the EU faces increasing risks to this critical infrastructure, the European Commission is intensifying efforts to enhance its security and resilience. Today, it introduced a new Cable Security Toolbox of risk mitigating measures and a list of Cable Projects of European Interest (CPEIs). It also amended the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Digital Work Programme to allocate €347 million to strategic submarine cable projects, including a €20 million call to enhance Europe’s repair capacities, which opened last February 5.

Last February 5’s announcements are part of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security, aimed at increasing the security and resilience of Europe’s submarine cables, including countering the rise of intentional damage and sabotage.

Cable Security Toolbox and projects of European interest

The toolbox outlines six strategic and four technical and support measures to improve the security of submarine cable infrastructure. It builds on the October 2025 risk assessment, which identified risk scenarios, threats, vulnerabilities and dependencies.

The list of 13 CPEI areas for public funding specifies three five-year stages, up to 2040, to fund projects aimed at strengthening the resilience of submarine cables. CPEI areas will be prioritised in upcoming CEF Digital calls for proposals and will inform planning for possible funding under the next Multi-annual Financial Framework.

These resources—risk assessment, toolbox and CPEIs—were developed by the Commission and Member State representatives within a dedicated Cables Expert Group.

Funding opportunities under Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital

The Commission amended the CEF Digital Work Programme, allocating €347 million to fund strategic submarine cable projects. These calls will support the CPEIs, enhance the EU’s cable repair capacity and equip submarine cables with smart capabilities.

In 2026, two funding calls worth €60 million will support cable repair modules, alongside a separate €20 million call for SMART cable system equipment. These are sensors and monitoring components integrated into submarine telecommunications infrastructure to gather real-time ocean and seismic data. Additionally, there will be two calls for CPEI funding in 2026 and 2027, totalling €267 million.

Supporting submarine cable repairs

Opening today is a €20 million call under CEF Digital to finance adaptable modules for submarine cable repairs. These modules will be stationed at ports or shipyards to swiftly restore submarine cable services.

This marks the first phase of a broader initiative planned for all major sea basins of the European Union, including the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This pilot will focus on the Baltic Sea due to the rise in submarine cable disruptions in recent years, suggesting these critical infrastructures might be subject to hostile acts.

Calls for proposals will be open only to public entities with an ‘emergency response’ mandate, such as those active in civil protection, national emergency response agencies, coastguards and military navies.

Background

In February 2024, the Commission adopted a Recommendation (EU) 2024/779 on Secure and Resilient Submarine Cable Infrastructures. It established the Submarine Cable Infrastructure Expert Group, involving Member State authorities and the European Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).

A year later, Joint Communication on an EU Action Plan on Cable Security outlined measures to protect submarine cables at all stages of resilience. By October 2025, the Cable Expert Group published the EU risk assessment on submarine cable infrastructures, informing today’s EU Cable Security Toolbox of mitigating measures and the CPEIs list.

Under the current CEF Digital multiannual Work Programme (2024-2027), a total €533 million is allocated for submarine cable projects, with €186 million already awarded to 25 projects. From 2021 to 2024, it provided €420 million to 51 backbone cable connectivity projects.

More information: European Commission