The Council today approved the guiding framework for the practical establishment of the EU Hybrid Rapid Response Teams. This paves the way for such teams to be deployed upon request, to prepare against and counter hybrid threats and campaigns.

Hybrid Rapid Response Teams are one of the key instruments to support EU member states and partner countries in countering hybrid threats as part of the EU Hybrid Toolbox. As one of the key deliverables of the Strategic Compass, they will provide tailored and targeted short-term assistance to member states, Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, and partner countries in countering hybrid threats and campaigns.

In a deteriorating security environment, with increasing disinformation, cyber-attacks, attacks on critical infrastructure, instrumentalised migration, and election interference by malign actors, the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams will be an important new capability of the EU to counter new and emerging threats.

Background

The Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, approved by the Council in 2022, calls for the development of an EU Hybrid Toolbox that brings together existing and possible new instruments to detect and respond to a broad range of hybrid threats. This includes the creation of EU Hybrid Rapid Response Teams adaptable to various hybrid threats and drawing on relevant sectoral national and EU civilian and military expertise.