The European Commission announced on Tuesday that cyberattacks targeting supermarket refrigeration systems in several EU member states are not isolated incidents. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told a midday press briefing that national investigations were underway and that collective resilience was urgently required.
Regnier explained that the Commission had convened two coordination meetings early on Tuesday. The first gathered an EU inter‑institutional task force, Europol, and relevant Commission departments to outline what had happened. The second brought together national authorities from affected countries—including those of Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia and Finland—through the European Cyber Crisis Liaison Organisation Network, to determine how best to respond collectively.
Cyberattacks that struck on Monday hit refrigeration units in retailers across the listed countries, forcing some outlets to discard affected food products. The incidents underscored how cyberattacks could disrupt essential services and affect citizens’ daily lives.
Regnier cautioned against premature attribution, saying
I would be extremely careful when it comes to attributions.He added that it was too early to assign responsibility and that the priority was shared information and preparedness.
The Commission emphasized that the attacks highlighted a broader threat to essential services. It urged member states to immediately share information, coordinate response efforts, and strengthen collective resilience against future cyber incidents.
