Since they are “at the forefront” of the threat posed by Russia and thus the bloc’s first line of defense, leaders from member states on the EU’s eastern frontier called on Tuesday for the prioritization” of EU funds towards the so-called Eastern Flank Watch flagship project.
Following a summit in Helsinki, the leaders of Sweden, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria issued a joint statement stating that the EU’s Eastern Flank should be “immediately prioritized through a coordinated and multi-domain operational approach” because Russia is the “most significant, direct, and long-term threat” to European security.
The flagship initiative, according to the EU executive’s proposal, aims to strengthen eastern member states’ ability to deal with a variety of threats, such as drone incursions, hybrid operations, Russia’s shadow fleet, and the possibility of armed assault.
It envisions Eastern Flank Watch being designated as a European Defence Project of Common Interest, which would give it access to additional EU financing and expedite authorization and planning.
EU27 leaders have not yet approved the blueprint, but they are anticipated to do so at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. The proposal does not, however, specify what the project would entail or cost.
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