Poland will receive EUR 52 million from the European Commission for better border protection, the EC announced on Wednesday. The additional measures are Brussels' response to the growing hybrid threat from Russia and Belarus.
As commented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the transfer of funds is another decisive step to support Member States bordering Russia and Belarus in counteracting hybrid threats resulting from the unacceptable instrumentalization of migration by these countries.
“A serious challenge to guarantee security”
– Especially countries bordering Russia and Belarus, such as Finland with its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, face a serious challenge to guarantee the security of the Union and the territorial integrity of the Member States, said von der Leyen.
EUR 150 million will be provided through the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), and an additional EUR 20 million will be provided through the BMVI thematic instrument for wider geographical distribution.
These funds will support Estonia in the amount of EUR 19.4 million, Finland – in the amount of EUR 50 million, Latvia – 17 million euros, Lithuania – EUR 15.4 million i Norway – EUR 16.4 million. Poland will receive EUR 52 million from this pool, i.e. over PLN 221 million.
Allocating extra money
The money is to be allocated in particular to modernizing electronic surveillance equipment, improving telecommunications networks, and deploying mobile equipment to detect and counteract drone incursions, thus ensuring more effective real-time monitoring of border areas and increasing the mobility of border patrols.
The package of funds is part of the communication presented by the European Commission on Wednesday to support member states in the fight against hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus and the use of migration as a war tool by these countries. “Autocrats must never use our European values ​​against us,” the head of the European Commission wrote in a statement.
The document establishes a framework for actions that should prevent Russia and Belarus from carrying out this type of practice, including enabling EU countries to adopt exceptional measures, such as suspending the right to asylum, and strengthening their ability to defend EU borders.
Main photo source: Artur Reszko/PAP