EU sets €60 million for eastern-border defence initiative

The European Union plans to provide €60 million for strengthening defence along its eastern border, a decision welcomed on Oct 2 by Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák. The funding is associated with Eastern Flank Watch, one of five cross-border defence projects approved by EU member-state defence ministers to improve the 27-member bloc’s readiness.¹²

Five areas for joint investment

The five projects cover drones and systems designed to defeat them, maritime and seabed defence, space capabilities, air and missile defence, and security on the EU’s eastern flank. They are intended to continue beyond the present funding period of the European Defence Industry Programme, or EDIP. Ukraine is participating in four of the five projects.³⁵

According to the Council of the European Union, formal approval was granted to five initiatives designated European Defence Projects of Common Interest. According to the Council, the projects qualify for EDIP support, while Eastern Flank Watch spans land, air, sea and cyber security along the eastern borders of participating countries.⁶

The European Commission described the projects as large industrial undertakings through which countries can cooperate on initiatives that would be too extensive or complex for one country alone. It said the work is designed to cover the development, deployment and operation of military capabilities, with the Commission helping to coordinate implementation and monitor agreed objectives.³

Funding and implementation

The Commission said it had allocated €325 million from the €1.5 billion EDIP to help establish and deploy the five projects. It also said support could continue under the EU’s next long-term budget, including through the proposed European Competitiveness Fund. The €325 million figure and the broader programme details were provided by the Commission and were not independently corroborated elsewhere in the dossier.³

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski said Eastern Flank Watch would receive €60 million from EDIP, including money to improve protection against drones. According to the Polish account, orders using those funds are to be placed by the end of 2027, and Poland wants a leading role in drawing on the programme.⁴

Poland has also called for greater EU spending on eastern-border security, citing what it describes as intensified Russian activity and more incidents involving sabotage, diversion, border crossings and airspace violations. Zalewski additionally sought EU financing or co-financing for a military fuel-pipeline network extending from Germany through Poland and farther east. These claims and proposals were reported by PAP and Radio Kielce.⁴

Slovakia’s priorities

Kaliňák said the Slovak Defence Ministry was primarily interested in counter-drone projects. Slovakia is progressively incorporating the Barak system into its national air-defence structure and NATO’s wider system, according to Slovak reporting.¹²

Components associated with the Barak system, including radar and three-dimensional radar equipment suitable for locating small drone targets, are due to be tested in Poland and Romania. Slovakia also expects eventually to seek information connected with satellite development through Eastern Flank Watch.¹²

The Slovak priorities link national procurement and testing with the wider EU projects, which are eligible for European financing and intended to strengthen the bloc’s collective readiness. The Commission says participation in the projects is also open to Norway and Ukraine under the EDIP regulation.¹²³