#OPCW - Joint statement by European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini

In April the offices of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague were targeted by a hostile cyber operation carried out by the Russian military intelligence service (GRU). This operation was disrupted by Dutch intelligence services in partnership with the United Kingdom (UK).

In addition, the UK government has indicated earlier today that it has identified that a number of cyber actors widely known to have been conducting cyber attacks around the world are, in fact, the Russian military intelligence service (GRU).

We express serious concerns about this attempt to undermine the integrity of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a respected international organization, hosted by the Netherlands. This aggressive act demonstrated contempt for the solemn purpose of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which works to eradicate weapons worldwide under a United Nations mandate.

We deplore such actions, which undermine international law and international institutions. The EU will continue to strengthen the resilience of its institutions and those of its member states, and international partners and organizations in the digital domain.