10.11.2026
The European Union stands ready to deliver a “swift and united response” following cyber-attacks that disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets in France, the European Commission said Tuesday.
“We, as the European Union, stand ready to come with a swift and united response,” EU Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told reporters at the midday briefing in Brussels.
His remarks came after France attributed the cyberattacks to Iran, with the issue expected to be discussed at next week’s foreign ministers’ meeting.
El Anouni said the EU acknowledged France’s attribution and stood in full solidarity with the country, stressing that the bloc would address malicious cyber activities using all available instruments.
He said these included the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox, including sanctions.
On cyber-related measures, he noted that the EU adopted restrictive measures in March against an Iranian entity under its cyber sanctions regime over activities targeting several member states, notably Sweden and France.
“We are working on more cyber sanctions,” he added.
Earlier Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris was weighing all options, including measures beyond diplomatic action and EU sanctions, over the suspected involvement of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps unit in the cyberattack.
The attack targeted around 700 supermarket sites overnight on Oct. 11, according to French authorities.
Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into the head of the Iranian Shahid Kaveh group, a cyber-offensive unit affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Electronic and Cyber Center, as well as two of its deputy leaders and other unidentified individuals. AA