United against emerging threats: SI project unites police researchers across the Baltic Sea region

With support from the Swedish Institute, a new network has emerged to strengthen cooperation among police researchers in the Baltic Sea area. The European Policing Research and Educational Network (EPREN) was established through an SI-funded project and has become a vital platform for knowledge exchange and joint learning on security issues.
Karta över Östersjöregionen samt illustrationer som visar ett samarbete mot hybridhot.
Hybrid threats may involve the use of drones, the spread of disinformation, digital threats such as viruses, and economic coercion. These threats have become increasingly common in the Baltic Sea region, where countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden are working together to strengthen their resilience through joint research and the exchange of experience. Illustration: Swedish Institute

Tony Blomqvist Mickelsson, project manager for Safety and Security in the Baltic Region – a police perspective, explains:

– Police research has long been dominated by the US and the UK. Through this project, we’ve begun to build a regional knowledge base that strengthens our countries’ ability to respond to emerging threats. At the same time, we’re laying the foundation for future cooperation.

April Meeting on Emerging Threats

On 23 April 2025, participants from Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden gathered for the network’s second in-person meeting. Discussions focused on how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has affected the security landscape – particularly through so-called hybrid threats, which combine cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic pressure aimed at destabilising societies.

Poland and Lithuania Hit by Russian Hybrid Attacks

Pawel Olber from the Police Academy in Szczytno, Poland, described how the country has been affected by the spread of false rumours about Ukrainian refugees, attacks on banking systems, and arson.

From Lithuania, Mindaugas Bilius of Vytautas Magnus University shared that the country frequently faces digital attacks – including those targeting energy companies and government agencies – and spoke of a major data breach that impacted half the population.

– We’ve created specialised cyber police units to detect and counter these threats. But just as important is our cooperation and asking the right questions in our research, he said.

Swedish experiences were shared by representatives from the Swedish Police Authority’s Stockholm Region Analysis Centre, who presented developments in Swedish policing to address hybrid threats.

The Road Ahead – Continued Cooperation

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing cooperation and future funding. The group is now planning a joint application, including with the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies.

– We’re facing the same or similar threats – and together, we’re better equipped, says Tony Blomqvist Mickelsson.

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