The European Commission has set out a plan to make the EU’s regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine more secure, resilient, and attractive places to live and work.
“Strengthening the eastern border regions is a strategic investment in Europe’s security, stability, cohesion and competitiveness,” said EC executive vice-president Raffaele Fitto.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has severely affected people and communities in these areas. From rising security threats and economic disruption to strain on local services and demographic decline. Several EU countries – Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria – by hybrid warfare, weaponised migration, economic and trade disruption, and demographic decline.
Since 2022, the EU has provided political, technical, and financial support to its eastern regions. This support has helped improve infrastructure, boost economic resilience, develop defence capabilities, address challenges in energy and connectivity, and support jobs.
But as the economic and security conditions in these regions continue to decline due to the ongoing war, further EU support is needed, according to the EU executive.
The new plan presents a set of actions to address the specific and unprecedented challenges these regions face. Five priority areas for support include
- security and resilience, including new projects and initiatives such as the Eastern Flank Watch, European Drone Defence initiative, the European Air Shield and the European Space Shield
- growth and regional prosperity: facilitating access to funding, including through cooperation with the European Investment Bank and the World Bank
- building on local strengths: integrating the Baltic states’ electricity network with the wider European grid, developing infrastructure such as the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor, and supporting circular-industry initiatives
- connectivity: promoting digital connectivity and upgrading transport networks
- supporting people: addressing depopulation and labour shortages and strengthening the communities through initiatives such as the Media Resilience Programme
To ensure progress, the Commission will launch an annual political dialogue on the impact of EU’s actions on the resilience and development of eastern regions. The first event will take place on 26 February 2026, when financial institutions will sign a declaration on the EU’s ‘EastInvest Facility’.
Communication on the EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
