European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed EU solidarity with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania following recent security incidents along Europe’s eastern border.
Speaking in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Estonian President Alar Karis, and Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, von der Leyen said: “When Baltic states are being tested, Europe as a whole is being tested.”
She described the incidents as part of a broader hybrid threat campaign, stating: “These are not isolated incidents. This is a deliberate strategy from Russia, trying to destabilize our democratic societies.”
Key developments included:
- €12 billion in additional SAFE funding for the Baltic states
- €1.5 billion redirected from EU cohesion funds for defence preparedness and border surveillance
- Expanded cooperation on counter-drone systems and early-warning capabilities
- A proposed EU-wide protocol for hybrid and cyber threats
Von der Leyen’s address focused on strengthening Europe’s long-term readiness against hybrid threats, cyberattacks and regional instability.
She outlined plans to expand defence cooperation, improve cross-border early-warning systems and deepen integration with Ukraine’s defence industry, while arguing that preparedness and deterrence are now central to European security policy.
Closing her remarks, she called for greater EU coordination in responding to future crises and urged member states to remain “vigilant” and “united” amid evolving security challenges along Europe’s eastern flank.
ℹ️ EC AC Portal
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