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Adopted text

Escalation of Russian strikes in the EU, particularly on Black Sea shipping, threatening human life, regional stability and food security

TA-10-2026-0365 · P10_TA(2026)0365 · PE788.360

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 27 Oct 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution condemns Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian merchant ships in the Black Sea, off Bulgaria and Romania, and repeated violations of Romanian airspace. It deplores the deaths and disappearances of seafarers and calls for investigations, accountability, search-and-rescue support and protection of seafarers' rights. It demands that Russia stop attacks on merchant vessels and port infrastructure, respect freedom of navigation and end its weaponisation of food supplies. It calls for an EU naval operation, a NATO Black Sea initiative, counter-drone and air-defence support for Bulgaria and Romania, and a coordinated EU framework for civilian navigation. It urges rapid funding and launch of the EU Black Sea maritime security hub in Constanța and Varna, and dedicated money for the region in the 2028-2034 budget. It calls for stronger sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet and war economy, monitoring of food-security risks, and operationalising the EU's mutual defence and solidarity clauses.

Key points

  1. Condemns deadly attacks on civilian merchant vessels off Bulgaria and Romania and violations of Romanian airspace; calls for a full investigation, preserved evidence and accountability.
  2. Deplores crew deaths and disappearances, offers condolences and solidarity with Bulgaria and Romania, and calls for EU search-and-rescue and support for survivors and victims' families.
  3. Denounces attacks on Ukrainian Danube ports and calls for support to Romania on airspace surveillance, early warning, civil protection and environmental monitoring in the Danube Delta.
  4. Holds Russia responsible for destabilising the Black Sea region and demands it cease attacks on merchant vessels and port infrastructure, respect freedom of navigation and stop weaponising food.
  5. Says Black Sea security is part of EU security and requires a coordinated EU response with NATO; expresses concern at Bulgaria's response and urges it to confirm participation in NATO's anti-drone initiative by 30 October 2026.
  6. Calls for the EU and member states to consider an EU naval operation in the Black Sea and for NATO to consider a Black Sea initiative, with closer Bulgaria-Romania-Türkiye cooperation.
  7. Calls on the Commission, member states and the VP/HR to work with the International Maritime Organization on an assessment of the attacks and to reinforce seafarers' safety, insurance and repatriation rights.
  8. Calls for identifying air and maritime defence gaps, an Anti-Access/Area Denial posture for the Black Sea and Danube Delta, layered counter-drone capabilities and a coordinated EU framework for civilian navigation.
  9. Calls for balancing defence production load, deeper defence industry cooperation with Ukraine, joint procurement of interception capabilities, a European Sky Shield over the Black Sea and proposals for space and drone shields.
  10. Calls for rapid launch of the EU Black Sea maritime security hub in Constanța and Varna with unspent and next-budget funds, and for the 2028-2034 budget to reflect Bulgaria's and Romania's front-line role.
  11. Calls for surveillance, intelligence sharing, protection of ports, energy and digital infrastructure, PESCO projects and a permanent mechanism for rapid satellite and intelligence support.
  12. Condemns Russia's hybrid actions, calls for stronger sanctions and shadow-fleet enforcement, monitoring of food-security risks and operationalising Article 42(7) TEU and Article 222 TFEU.

Who is affected

  • Bulgaria and Romania: urged to receive EU support, coordinate diplomatically and fund the Black Sea hub; Bulgaria pressed on its response and NATO anti-drone participation.
  • Seafarers and merchant crews: the resolution seeks their protection, rescue, compensation and repatriation rights regardless of flag or nationality.
  • Russia: called on to cease attacks, respect freedom of navigation and face investigations, sanctions and accountability.
  • Import-dependent countries and vulnerable households: the text seeks protection of grain exports and food supplies from disruption.
  • EU defence industry and eastern member states: asked to balance production load and deepen cooperation with Ukraine.

Figures and deadlines

  • More than 20 civilian crew members killed or missing in recent Black Sea attacks.
  • Gas Lisbon carried 3 790 tonnes of propane when struck about 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast.
  • HS Dignity sank approximately 17 nautical miles east of Krapets; Chelsea 3 was struck 18 nautical miles east of Byala.
  • Wine Trader was struck 13 nautical miles east of Sulina.
  • Romania has recorded 54 drone intrusions since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, 35 of them in 2026.
  • Over 90 % of Ukraine's agricultural exports pass through the corridor Russia is targeting.
  • Bulgaria is urged to confirm participation in NATO's anti-drone initiative by 30 October 2026.
  • Neptun Deep is due to start production in 2027.

Legal basis: Articles 24(3) and 42(7) TEU and Article 222 TFEU.