The European Union (EU) is considering implementing joint maritime patrols and annual naval exercises to counter Russian spy ships and protect critical maritime infrastructure.

Axar.az reports that this was said by Virginijus Sinkevicius, the Commissioner for the Environment of the EU.

"The EU's renewed maritime strategy will be announced to the public today. The document will also provide for the expansion of satellite monitoring and intelligence sharing between member states. "The need to protect critical marine infrastructure and ships from physical and cyber threats arose after the explosions of the Nord Stream gas pipelines," he said.