Page 26 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

prepare and organise the meetings of the Steering Board and cooperate and liaise with Participants,
the EU and the NATO.

The initiative to establish Hybrid CoE originates from the Joint Communication by the European
Commission and the High Representative to the European Parliament and the Council “Joint framework
on countering hybrid threats – a European Union response”, decided in Brussels on 6 April 2016. The
initiative was supported in the Common set of proposals for the implementation of the Joint EU/NATO
Declaration, endorsed by the Council of the European Union and the North Atlantic Council on 6
December 2016.

https://www.hybridcoe.fi/about-us/

The focus of the Centre is upon thinking through how best to counter hybrid threats.

We live in an era of hybrid influencing. There are state and non-state actors that are challenging
countries and institutions they see as a threat, opponent or competitor to their interests and goals. The
range of methods and activities is wide: influencing information; logistical weaknesses like energy
supply pipelines; economic and trade-related blackmail; undermining international institutions by
rendering rules ineffective; terrorism or increasing insecurity.

Hybrid threats are methods and activities that are targeted towards vulnerabilities of the opponent.
Vulnerabilities can be created by historical memory, legislation, old practices, geostrategic factors,
strong polarisation of society, technological disadvantages or ideological differences. If the interests
and goals of the user of hybrid methods and activity are not achieved, the situation can escalate into
hybrid warfare where the role of military and violence will increase significantly.

Hybrid tactics have been under discussion, in particular, since the conflict in Ukraine and the ISIL/Da’esh
campaign in Iraq. Hybrid threats have a connection to both Eastern and Southern challenges. In order to
meet the challenges, it is important to develop integrated national responses, including threat analysis,
self-assessment of vulnerabilities and comprehensive security approach. An integrated international
response – including EU and NATO efforts – is needed to support the assessment of threats and
vulnerabilities as well as coordinated action.

https://www.hybridcoe.fi/hybrid-threats/

“The centre will make an important contribution to our security” the Secretary General said. It will help nations
and international organizations like NATO and the EU to better understand modern, complex threats and to
strengthen our societies against them.”

It is also interesting to note how the Norwegian government described the Centre and its importance in
Norwegian government press release regarding their joining the Centre.

Norway signed an agreement today (2017-07-14) on participation in the newly established, Finnish-led
European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.

Increasingly complex challenges and constellations of actors are affecting the security landscape. The
use of hybrid strategies has become steadily more widespread. A number of countries are experiencing
disinformation activities, propaganda campaigns linked to elections, and the hacking of critical
infrastructure. The effects of these and other hybrid strategies are compounded by our societies’
increased dependence on cyberspace.
Second Line of Defense

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