Polish Undersecretary of State in the EU Affairs Division Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka has said that Poland plans to leverage its EU presidency in the first half of 2025 to secure funding for the construction of defensive fortifications along its border with Russia and Belarus.

“Our goal is to secure funding for the ‘East Shield.’ We should not bear the costs of its construction alone,” the politician said, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media.

Warsaw may seek to use funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB) by obtaining agreement from its EU partners to include defence projects in the list of eligible investment areas for the EIB.

The project, known as Tarcza Wschod (East Shield), involves the establishment of a network of fortifications, barriers, bunkers, and surveillance systems along the border with Russia and Belarus.

The total estimated cost for implementing the East Shield is 10 billion zlotys (over $2.5 billion), with construction expected to be completed by 2028.

By Naila Huseynova