Strengthening the EU eastern border considered priority in new EC strategy - Dombrovskis

RIGA - It is important for Latvia that the new European Commission (EC) strategy highlights the strengthening of the European Union's (EU) eastern border as a priority in order to prevent any Russian and Belarusian threats, said Valdis Dombrovskis (New Unity), European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementing and Simplifying EU Law.

According to the EC Representation in Latvia, the EC presented on Wednesday a White Paper on European defense and preparedness in 2030. The EC also presented a package of defense legislation as part of the ReArm Europe/ Preparedness 2030 plan. It provides financial levers that will be made available to EU Member States to increase investment in defense.

Dombrovskis noted that the so-called Eastern Border Shield project aims to develop integrated management of the EU's external borders with Russia and Belarus. This includes the deployment of physical fortifications and barriers, infrastructure development, the creation of a modern and integrated border guard system, and other security measures.

"Today, the EU is sending a strong signal to the people of Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland - our border is also the EU external border, which Europe is ready to fortify together," said the commissioner.

The world has changed, he stressed, and so must Europe. For Dombrovskis, the bloc's security and prosperity are interlinked and the ReArm Europe plan is designed to strengthen them. The commissioner underlined that today the EC activated the national exception clause - a coordinated and targeted temporary measure to increase investment in defense at national and EU level.

"This will allow EU countries to make the necessary investments to strengthen our defense capabilities and industry, and to spend better, not just more, because we will all do it together. In this way, we will boost economic growth and innovation and create new jobs," said the commissioner, adding that the fiscal sustainability of EU Member States' budgets will be monitored at the same time.

ReArm Europe/Preparedness 2030 aims to strengthen Europe-wide defense capabilities through new financing options, while the White Paper sets out a new approach to defense and identifies investment needs.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the need to invest in defense, strengthen the bloc's capabilities and take a proactive approach to security. She stressed that the EC is taking decisive action by presenting a roadmap for Preparedness 2030, which foresees increased defense spending and significant investment in the capabilities of the European defense industry.

"We need to buy more European goods. Because that means strengthening Europe's defense technological and industrial base. It means boosting innovation. And that in turn means creating an EU-wide market for defense equipment," said von der Leyen.

The White Paper sets out solutions to fill critical capability gaps and build a strong defense industrial base. It proposes ways for Member States to invest in defense, procure defense systems and increase the long-term preparedness of the European defense industry.

The White Paper also sets out a number of lines of action, such as addressing capability gaps by focusing on critical capabilities identified by Member States, supporting the European defense industry through demand and joint procurement.

Activity directions also include supporting Ukraine through increased military assistance and deeper integration of the European and Ukrainian defense industries, deepening the EU-wide defense market including through simplification of rules, accelerating defense transformation, reinforcing European preparedness for worst case scenarios by improving military mobility and stockpiling and strengthening external borders, in particular land borders with Russia and Belarus, as well as strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries around the world.