Poland, Baltic states urge EU to fund eastern defence projects
Poland and the three Baltic states have called on the European Commission and the European Council to provide financial support for the Eastern Shield and Baltic Defence Line initiatives.
In a joint letter released on Friday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal asked that both initiatives be recognised as "projects of common European interest" and called for the use of all available EU instruments to support them.
The appeal comes ahead of the EU summit on June 26-27, which will focus on the war in Ukraine and Europe's defence capabilities.
"The threat to the EU and its Member States is increasing, so a more coordinated and robust strategic response is urgently needed," the leaders wrote. "Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are leading the way. We are working closely to strengthen border security and build a robust first line of defence for the entire Union."
The letter said both projects aim to "prevent, disrupt, and deter" potential aggressors, and noted that coordination among the four countries is already underway.
The Eastern Shield programme foresees the construction of fortifications and land obstacles along Poland's eastern and northern borders.
The Baltic Defence Line, a joint initiative by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, aims to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and secure the region against possible invasion from Russia or Belarus. It is expected to be linked with Poland's Eastern Shield to form a cohesive regional defence system. (PAP)
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