EU Must Leverage Strength Against State-Sponsored Cyberattacks, Says MEP Terras

OPA WIRE, Nov 11 (OPA) — European lawmakers are pressing the bloc to adopt a more aggressive defense posture following a wave of coordinated cyberattacks that crippled supermarket refrigeration systems and disrupted blood banks in France. French authorities have formally linked the attack on blood banking facilities to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, intensifying scrutiny over foreign hostile operations inside European borders.

Speaking to Euronews, MEP Riho Terras placed part of the blame on private business owners for failing to secure their networks. Terras pointed to inadequate financing and a lack of necessary computer system upgrades for poor cyber resilience. He specifically highlighted that Internet of Things devices, including network-connected lighting and commercial freezers, typically lack proper security protections.

Despite vulnerabilities in the retail sector, Terras dismissed concerns that airports and core transportation networks face similar risks from hostile actors. He noted that critical transport infrastructure must remain disconnected from the internet and is heavily safeguarded under the European Union's Network and Information Security Act.

To deter future incursions, Terras urged Brussels to formally attribute cyber incidents to state actors and immediately deploy restrictive measures such as targeted sanctions and coordinated diplomacy. The European Union must actively utilize its collective strength for digital self-defense to protect its integrated infrastructure against escalating foreign threats.