The European Union has announced plans to set up a “maritime security hub” in the Black Sea to monitor Russian naval movements, strengthen regional security, and protect vital underwater infrastructure. The proposal was released by the European Commission on Wednesday, May 28.
The hub, likely to be based in Romania or Bulgaria, would provide real-time monitoring “from space to seabed” and act as an early warning system for threats such as damage to undersea cables. The move comes amid growing concerns from Black Sea nations—including Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, and Ukraine—about Russian activity in the region.
Brussels says the hub would also help build maritime capacity and support the negotiation and monitoring of potential ceasefires in Ukraine and beyond. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted the first step is achieving a ceasefire, and added the hub could help share information with NATO and regional partners.
Officials said the plan’s success may depend on Turkey, which regulates access to the Black Sea via the Bosporus Strait. The EU said Turkey could play a constructive role in countering Russia’s shadow fleet and improving maritime safety and energy security under international law.
