EU Statement on the Current Issue raised by Romania: On the sabotage act in Brașov, Romania (September 14, 2026), OSCE Permanent Council No. 1583 - Vienna, 29 October 2026

1. The European Union strongly condemns the act of sabotage in Brașov, Romania, on 14 September. After a thorough assessment, Romanian authorities confirmed that a network co-ordinated from the Russian Federation deliberately set fire to an industrial site, next to defence industry manufacturer Carfil. 

2. What happened in Brașov was not an isolated incident. Since 2022, we have seen persistent, coordinated, and long-standing hybrid campaigns aimed at threatening and undermining the security, resilience and democratic foundations of the EU, its Member States and its partners, as well as undermining support to Ukraine and its ability to defend itself. Acts of sabotage, disruption of critical infrastructure, information manipulation and interference are becoming more frequent and more brazen.

3. We also condemn the repeated attacks against civilian shipping, merchant and commercial vessels in the Black Sea, such as the recent attacks against civilian ships in Romania’s territorial waters and in its exclusive economic zone, as well as in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. These attacks constitute a serious violation of international and maritime law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We furthermore condemn the repeated violations of the airspace of EU Member States, most recently of Romania, and of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia’s intensified attacks against Ukraine. 

4. We stand in full solidarity with Romania and all EU Member States and countries that are affected by Russia’s actions.

5. The European Union and the Member States will make full use of all instruments and mechanisms available, including the EU hybrid toolbox, at the request of the Member State concerned, to prevent, deter and respond to hybrid attacks. 

6. Russia’s attempts to sow distrust will fail. The EU is more united than ever in its support to Ukraine and will not cease to defend democracy, international law, the Charter of the UN and the Helsinki Final Act. 

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.