Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001306/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Michał Dworczyk (ECR)
Starting in 2021, hybrid attacks by the Lukashenka regime, weaponising migration, are part of a Moscow-coordinated strategy to destabilise the region. Mateusz Morawiecki’s government repeatedly warned EU partners and institutions that this action bears all the hallmarks of a hybrid war and that the Polish border – also an external EU and NATO border – needs to be adequately protected. Unfortunately, these warnings went unheeded for political reasons, including as a result of the irresponsible actions of the then opposition, which questioned the point of border protection and sparked disputes on the topic. Despite these attacks and the lack of support from Brussels, Morawiecki’s government never shied away from its security responsibilities and took decisive action, such as the building of a physical barrier at the Belarusian border.
The Commission’s white paper on European defence recognises this doggedness, describing the East Shield as a ‘noteworthy’ exercise. This exercise follows on directly from the policy led by Mateusz Morawiecki’s government. However, unlike other parts of the document in which the Commission explicitly declares its intention to take specific measures or pledges forms of support, here there is no indication whether there are plans for financial or institutional support for the implementation of the project[1].
- 1.Why does the Commission stop short of pledging specific support for the East Shield in its white paper?
- 2.Are related consultations or analyses currently under way?
- 3.Does the Commission intend to provide financial support for the project? If so, how much, from which funds, and in which mode?
Submitted: 28.3.2025
- [1] All the Commission does is make a banal comment about the need to protect the EU’s land, air and sea borders, stating: ‘The project for an Eastern Border Shield is a noteworthy exercise by a number of Member States to confront the growing challenges in that region. It would establish an integrated land border management system that is designed to strengthen the EU’s external land border with Russia and Belarus against military and hybrid threats. That would include a comprehensive mix of physical barriers, infrastructure development and modern surveillance systems.’ https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/document/download/30b50d2c-49aa-4250-9ca6-27a0347cf009_en?filename=White%20Paper.pdf. p. 9.