The EESC is urging the EU to adopt a dedicated long-term strategy and boost funding for its eastern border regions, warning that they face growing security, economic and demographic pressures that existing policies cannot fully address. In an opinion adopted at its June plenary, the EESC calls for regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to be recognised as strategic frontlines rather than peripheral areas. 

It recommends that there be a dedicated funding stream in the next EU budget, more investment in transport, energy and digital infrastructure, measures to boost competitiveness and address demographic decline, and greater involvement of local authorities and civil society.

"The challenges require more than incremental reform and call for a long-term strategic framework beyond the current budget cycle", said rapporteur Katrina Zarina. Co-rapporteur Ionut Sibian added that eastern border regions were "strategic assets whose resilience underpins EU security, cohesion and long-term prosperity". The plenary debate featured Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Finance Neringa Rinkevičiūtė-Laurinaitienė, and European Commission Deputy Director-General Hugo Sobral, who all stressed the strategic importance of strengthening the EU's eastern frontier. The EESC argues that investing in these regions is essential not only for their development, but also for Europe's security, resilience and long-term prosperity. More.