Strong eastern regions of the EU are a guarantee of a secure Europe says Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim

At the invitation of Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Magdalena Czarzynska-Jachim, EA coordinator to CIVEX, participated in a high-level event dedicated to supporting regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.

Representatives of border countries — including the Prime Ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania — as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized that our borders are not merely national borders, but Europe’s borders. These regions face not only real security threats, but also challenges such as the outflow of investment and a lack of prospects for young residents.

Europe must strengthen these areas through the SAFE programme, cohesion policy in the next European budget, and also through the €28 billion EastInvest guarantee fund, managed by the European Investment Bank, which will support investments in border regions.- she said after the meeting.

Joint and swift action is needed to reinforce these regions — and, through them, the security of the whole of Europe. Local governments and communities have a very important role to play in this process. – EA CIVEX Coordinator added.