Hybrid attack against Greece and the EU through smuggling networks

Question for written answer E-000509/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

Hybrid threats consist of coordinated, malicious actions aimed at destabilising states or institutions. In this context, repeated incidents in the Aegean, including heinous acts by smugglers, ramming of law enforcement vessels and the organised promotion of illegal migration flows towards Greek borders, highlight a well-known form of hybrid attack against Member States (Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Lithuania in the past) and, by extension, against the Union itself.

Based on Frontex data, there are thousands of recorded accounts of organised smuggling routes from Türkiye with direct impacts on security, border management and the cohesion of communities on the front line.

The recent hybrid attack against the Greek coast guard in Chios highlights once again the role of criminal networks and the need for a clear European response.

It is obviously regrettable that international networks and NGOs that sell 'sensitivity' are easily manipulated, blinding the general public to the horrific role of Turkish-led smuggling networks.

In light of the EU's toolbox for countering hybrid threats and the mechanisms for a coordinated response:

• 1.Does the Commission recognise the incident as a hybrid attack against Greece?
• 2.What specific measures are to be taken to prevent the instrumentalisation of smuggling networks with the support of Türkiye?
• 3.Is the possibility of processing asylum procedures in a relevant reception and identification centre outside the EU being considered, in order to disrupt the networks of smugglers and ensure the complete impenetrability of our borders?

Submitted: 8.2.2026