LosHechos

The European Commission has launched a strategy to support nine EU member states bordering Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, mobilising billions of euros to reverse economic and demographic decline.

The European Commission has released a strategy to support eastern border regions struggling with economic decline, demographic pressure, and hybrid threats stemming from the war in Ukraine.

Nine EU member states – Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria – are set to benefit from the initiative, which targets areas facing reduced investment, falling populations, and disruptions to cross-border activity.

The centrepiece of the strategy is EastInvest, a facility that will disburse €28bn in loans in cooperation with the European Investment Bank and the World Bank to revive investment and business activity in the affected regions.

"This Communication has been developed together with the territories and their communities to ensure they remain vibrant places to live, work, grow, and stay competitive," said Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms.

The strategy also covers the European Drone Wall Initiative to strengthen border security, support for integrating Baltic electricity networks into the broader European grid, and educational and employment programmes aimed at addressing population decline in border areas. (2026-02-18, Euronews)