The European Commission announced the launch of a comprehensive strategy to support the EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. A key element of the initiative is the new investment platform, EastInvest Facility, which will facilitate access to multi-billion-euro loans and advisory support for businesses and local authorities in these areas.
According to the European Commission, the EastInvest platform, being developed jointly with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, the EBRD, the Nordic Investment Bank, and national development banks, will mobilize at least €28 billion in lending funds in 2026–2027. These resources will be used to renew investment, create jobs, develop infrastructure, and overcome the economic downturn caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, border closures, the decline in cross-border trade, and demographic challenges.
The strategy covers the border regions of nine EU countries: Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. These areas have faced population outflow, declining investment, disrupted supply chains, and increased hybrid threats.
The platform will be officially launched on February 26, 2026, when financial institutions will sign a declaration of intent. This event will be the first in a series of annual high-level meetings to support the eastern regions.
“Strengthening the eastern border regions is not only a sign of solidarity, but also a strategic investment in the security, competitiveness, and long-term stability of the whole of Europe,” emphasized Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reform.