The European Parliament has called on the European Union to consider deploying a naval operation in the Black Sea after deadly attacks on civilian shipping and repeated violations of Romanian airspace, as tensions rise along the bloc's eastern flank, parliament statement said.

Russia's war against Ukraine continues has raised security concerns among Nato members bordering the Black Sea, a strategically important corridor for maritime trade and regional infrastructure.

In a resolution adopted on October 22, lawmakers condemned Russian strikes off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, holding Moscow responsible for attacks on merchant vessels and an escalation of its war against Ukraine into the western Black Sea.

The resolution passed with 432 votes in favour, 52 against and 88 abstentions. It said the incidents reflected a broader pattern of Russian escalation and systematic targeting of civilian shipping.

MEPs said freedom of navigation and maritime security were essential to protecting Nato's eastern flank, the wider Black Sea region and the Danube delta. They urged Nato to consider a regional initiative building on discussions about a proposed "Black Sea Sentry" mission, and called for closer cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye.

The parliament also criticised Bulgaria's response to the Russian threat, calling on Prime Minister Rumen Radev to “match demands for allied solidarity with concrete action”. Lawmakers urged Sofia to stop delaying its participation in Nato's anti-drone initiative, known as Air Defence Capabilities Against Lower-level Air Threats.

The resolution praised Romanian and Bulgarian maritime rescue services, border police and merchant vessels for their rapid assistance to ships affected by the attacks.

MEPs called on EU member states, working with Nato, to provide greater support to Bulgaria and Romania to detect and track hostile drones threatening Black Sea shipping.

They also urged the EU to accelerate implementation of its Black Sea maritime security hub, an initiative intended to strengthen maritime safety, protect critical infrastructure and safeguard the marine environment.

The parliament called for unused funding under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence instrument to be directed towards helping the two countries address security challenges in the region.

Lawmakers further urged the EU and its member states to improve protection for submarine telecommunications, electricity transmission and data cables, citing the need for stronger maritime surveillance, regional cooperation and rapid-response mechanisms.

The resolution also called for the EU's next long-term budget to provide for a broad range of security and defence requirements in the Black Sea region.