Poland and Baltic states request new EU funds for border security

Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have requested that the European Commission provide additional funds for the protection of the EU’s external borders.

These countries are requesting financial support to strengthen their aerial surveillance systems and their defense capabilities against unmanned aerial vehicles.

In a letter sent to European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, these countries emphasized that they have been facing complex threats for more than four years, including the instrumentalization of migration from Belarus and Russia.

The letter stated that in recent months, some unmanned aerial vehicles with explosive devices have entered the territories of the region’s countries, with incidents occurring even near civilian areas, posing a direct threat to residents.

The countries noted that previous support from the European Commission helped strengthen border protection, improve migration management, and increase response capabilities.

However, the countries emphasized that the current situation requires further investment in aerial surveillance systems and anti-drone capabilities.

The letter was signed by Estonian Minister of the Interior Igor Taro, Finnish Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, Latvian Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis, Lithuanian Minister of the Interior Vladislav Kondratovic, and Polish Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwiński.

Last week, a flying object crashed in a cornfield near Osiny in eastern Poland, exploding and shattering the windows of nearby houses.

Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz later announced that the object was a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle.