The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it would allocate an additional 170 million euros to member states bordering Russia and Belarus for enhanced border protection, with Poland receiving 52 million euros from this funding. The additional funds are a response to the increasing hybrid threats posed by Russia and Belarus, including the use of migration as a tool of warfare, particularly the instrumentalization of migrants.
The European Commission will invest more in surveillance at the bloc's borders with Russia and Belarus, it said on Wednesday, as it accused Russia of encouraging migrants over the border in a "hybrid war" tactic.
Countries including Poland and Finland will benefit from an additional 170 million euros (178.57 million dollars) "to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusions," it said in a statement.
The funds will be distributed as follows: €19.4 million for Estonia, €50 million for Finland, €17 million for Latvia, €15.4 million for Lithuania, and €16.4 million for Norway.
Poland will receive €52 million (approx. PLN 221 million).
Polish-Belarusian border near the Polowce-Peschatka crossingArtur Reszko/PAP
Poland has raised concerns about Belarus reportedly offering migrants an unofficial route into Europe. Belarus rejects the accusations.
Finland has accused Russia of encouraging migrants from countries such as Syria and Somalia to cross the border - an assertion Moscow denies.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's new executive vice-president in charge of security, said the situation on Europe's borders was "very serious".
"Russia uses weaponisation of migration as a new tool in the hybrid war against the EU. We must not allow any hostile state to abuse European values, including the right to asylum," she said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Finland, Poland, Norway and the Baltic countries were "bravely keeping our borders safe from threats of all forms coming from Russia and Belarus". She also accused Russia and Belarus of "unacceptable weaponization of migration."
"Today we offer these countries further support, including an additional 170 million in funding to upgrade electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunication networks, deploy mobile detection equipment and counter drone intrusion," von der Leyen added.
"Autocrats must never be allowed to use our European values against us."
Ursula von der LeyenRONALD WITTEK/EPA/PAP
According to the EU Commission, 150 million euros will be allocated through the Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument (BMVI), while an additional 20 million euros will be provided from the thematic BMVI instrument for broader geographical distribution.
The money will be primarily used to modernize electronic surveillance equipment, improve telecommunications networks, deploy mobile equipment for detecting and countering drone intrusions, and ensure more effective real-time monitoring of border areas, thus increasing the mobility of border patrols.
This funding package is part of the European Commission’s broader communication on supporting member states in combating hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, as well as the exploitation of migration as a weapon.
The document establishes a framework of actions aimed at preventing Russia and Belarus from engaging in this type of behavior. It also allows EU countries to adopt exceptional measures, such as suspending the right to asylum, and strengthens their ability to defend EU borders.
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TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Artur Reszko/PAP