Toward a systemic framework for evaluating the European Union's resilience to hybrid threats

Recognizing the rapid advancement and heightened intricacy of hybrid threats, EU and Hybrid CoE experts devised a new framework to address these challenges. Given that non-conventional hazards can affect all aspects of life and society, implementing countermeasures that focus solely on certain areas is inadequate. The present article proposes a systemic framework for evaluating the EU's response to hybrid threats, as resilience is the foundation of the Comprehensive Resilience Ecosystem model. Initiatives aimed at fostering resilience against hybrid threats were classified into five principal areas, which include an assessment of political and legal frameworks, institutional measures, inter-institutional collaboration, regulatory actions, and societal strategies, reflecting a comprehensive approach that engages the entire society. This analysis will examine the Community's resilience-building initiatives against hybrid threats over the past two decades, while also illustrating that the Union can play a vital supplementary role in assisting Member States to address the unconventional threats of the 21st century.