The European Commission has unveiled a new strategy to strengthen support for the EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, aiming to boost resilience, economic stability and security in areas heavily affected by the war in Ukraine.
According to the European Commission, the initiative is both a show of solidarity and a strategic investment in Europe’s long-term security and competitiveness. Regions across nine Member States — Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria — have faced mounting challenges since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including hybrid threats, economic disruption, labour shortages and population decline.
War-related pressures
Since the start of the conflict, the EU has already provided political, financial and technical assistance to these border regions. Support has focused on improving infrastructure, strengthening defence capacities, boosting economic resilience and maintaining trade flows, notably through the EU–Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. However, Brussels warns that ongoing security risks and economic pressures mean further targeted assistance is now necessary.
We recently reported that Hungary and Slovakia turned to Brussels over oil transit dispute with Croatia.
Five key priorities
The European Commission’s new strategy centres on five main areas. The first is security and resilience. Plans include developing initiatives such as an Eastern Flank Watch system, enhanced drone defence measures, and broader European air and space protection frameworks. A new network of specialists will also be created to improve cross-border preparedness.
The next one is growth and regional prosperity. Financial access will be expanded through a proposed EastInvest facility, bringing together major lenders, including the European Investment Bank Group and international partners. Cooperation with the World Bank is also expected to support development in the hardest-hit areas.
Next up is building on local strengths, which means efforts will prioritise integrating Baltic electricity systems with European networks and developing cross-border hydrogen infrastructure, including the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor. Circular industry projects and regional bioeconomy hubs will also receive backing.
The following step is connectivity. Investments will focus on digital infrastructure and transport upgrades, including dual-use roads, railways, ports and improved links with Ukraine and Moldova.
People and communities: Measures will target depopulation and labour shortages through education-to-employment programmes, alongside initiatives to strengthen media resilience and counter disinformation.
To monitor progress, the European Commission will launch an annual high-level political dialogue with Member States. The first meeting is scheduled for 26 February 2026, when financial institutions are expected to sign a declaration formally launching the EastInvest facility.
In case you missed: PM Orbán calls repayment ‘absurd’ as EU court opinion questions EUR 10 billion paid to Hungary.
Why is it necessary?
Eastern EU regions have experienced slower economic growth, falling investment and rising security costs since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A mid-term review of EU cohesion policy in 2025 already recognised these challenges and allocated additional funding.
Looking ahead, the European Commission has also proposed dedicated resources for eastern border regions within the EU’s next long-term budget framework for 2028–2034.
Where are they going to find the money for this?
Germany is out of money, and, even if they were not, Merz would rather send it to Ukraine.
If not Germany, who within the EU should have such a credit rating? In case you didn’t know, large projects are always financed through loans, just as it always has been in the past, even in Hungary.
Government bonds are issued for this purpose, but no state repays these bonds at maturity with existing funds (revenue). When these bonds mature, the state issues new government bonds, and the old ones are then redeemed. That’s how it works in the world.
A fiscal balance like that of a rabbit breeders’ association, where income and expenses are in equilibrium, has long since ceased to exist in the public sector. It’s no different in Hungary! Why do you think inflation in Hungary is so high? Since the velocity of money changes only slightly and the savings rate remains virtually unchanged, it can only be due to the money supply, and this leads to inflation rising with a time lag.
But why did Hungary take out such a large loan from the Chinese? Maybe Hungary has used this “private loan” to obscure its true debt ratio, because they were afraid of the reaction of the financial market. I don’t know.
Read my article below on GDP and the debt ratio! What facts do you have to back up your opinion that there is no money? Gut feeling or something else? Last time, Germany borrowed 600 billion euros in one go, and its debt ratio is still far lower than Hungary’s.
So how is the EU as Orban claims a “threat” to Hungary while Russia is not? Orban is the worst backstabbing traitor of Europe.
Uhm, like Croatia together with the Commie-shion conspiring with Ukraine to sabotage oil supply towards Hungary, and cause an economical crisis to coup the government, because they know, they’ll loose the election?
Is that a good enough reason?
Get over it. Hungary should have quit to Russian oil years ago. Always blaming to 3rd parties when you had the chance to fix your own issues. Such an Hungarian way to live
@Jose, huh!
The Humgarian way to live, is to crush anyone trying to dictate anything to us.
And comments like yours only pour oil on the fire of defiance. 😉
But thankfully Larry, Orbán decided to grow something resembling a tiny-weny ball like object, and stopped the diesel deliveries to Ukraine. FINALLY.
We might have our economy ruined, but it will cost them fuckers. Let’s see, how well Ukriane fights a war without fuel.
Yawn…
911
It’s safe to assume that Hungary will be sidelined in some way within the next 10 months, either through the removal of Orbán from office, financial repression by the EU, the formation of the E6, the suspension of its voting rights (certainly the most drastic, but not the most likely, development), and/or an economic downturn. Per capita, Germany’s GDP is about four times that of Russia.
Here’s a comparison of the GDP of European countries in 2024 (most recent data):
https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/188776/umfrage/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bip-in-den-eu-laendern/
Germany’s GDP of €4.503 billion is exactly 21.8 times that of Hungary at €206 billion, even though it should only be eight times higher when adjusted for the population of each country. This demonstrates Germany’s economic strength.
…and for those who still aren’t satisfied, here’s the current debt-to-GDP ratio:
https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/163692/umfrage/staatsverschuldung-in-der-eu-in-prozent-des-bruttoinlandsprodukts/
At the end of 2025 (the most recent data), it stood at 62.4% for Germany. All major EU countries have significantly more debt than Germany. It still meets the Maastricht criterion of 60%, which is necessary for Eurozone membership. Hungary currently does not meet this requirement, as its debt-to-GDP ratio is 76.2%.
Imagine china toppled the gov in Canada
Installs its own people
Installs a clown
Guess how the US would react
I think you are beyond help if you don’t know
The question needs to be broadened: with Trump in power, or another person?
Spain’s Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has revealed a plan to create a new club of the EU’s six largest economies, the “E6”. The group includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland.
The goal is to accelerate financial market reforms and bring Europe into competition with the U.S. and China, circumventing the EU’s political gridlock, writes Politico.
Querpo said the idea came after the “epiphany” – Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
“E6 will make it possible to bring complex political issues to the table and unblock long-stalled projects,” the minister explained. The group is also coordinating positions ahead of G7 meetings on strategic issues, including access to rare earth minerals in the face of the threat of China’s export restrictions.
E6 has already met twice and plans to present concrete proposals at the March European Council summit. The main areas of focus are strengthening rare earth supply chains, reducing bureaucracy and promoting the “28th regime” – uniform rules for companies in the EU. The next meeting on March 9 will focus on defense investment and promoting the euro on the international stage.
Meanwhile, smaller countries including Ireland and Portugal fear the supergroup will create a two-speed Europe where big states will override the opinions of others. At least nine countries need to participate to legally implement “enhanced cooperation,” and legislation requires the support of 15 nations, making the involvement of allies mandatory.
Cuerpo urged skeptics to participate in open forums to prevent non-E6 countries from being isolated. “There are no red lines within the group and this should be to everyone’s benefit,” the minister emphasized.
E6 demonstrates the desire of the EU’s six largest economies to act faster and more efficiently, while trying to maintain a balance between the interests of large and small countries.
The current oil disputes will not have any significant negative impact on Hungary, Slovakia or Ukraine, as sufficient reserves exist.
It is essentially just a political problem that will disappear as quickly as it appeared.