Vice-Minister of Finance J. Kizenevič: "Living next to the aggressor, we must wisely invest limited resources in greater security and competitiveness"
Today, Europe is facing emerging new threats and rapidly changing geopolitics. The European Union (EU) Member States bordering aggressor countries face various economic, social and resilience challenges that are much more relevant for the countries of our region than for the rest of the EU, Vice-Minister of Finance Januš Kizenevič, who participated in the high-level discussion "Do We Respond to the Priorities? Cohesion Policy in the New EU Reality", emphasizes.
"With Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, security has become a crucial concern for the entire Community. However, the EU's eastern border Member States bordering the aggressor are experiencing exceptional challenges – from hybrid threats, increased defence spending to decreased foreign investment. Therefore, Cohesion Policy must respond to the new geopolitical reality and provide additional support for the EU's eastern border Member States. We see that Cohesion Policy is changing, its priorities are expanding to include defence and security, and we welcome it. Cohesion Policy is entering a new era, the one we have not yet encountered," Vice-Minister of Finance J. Kizenevič states.
Living on the eastern border of the EU leads to increased spending on national-level security and resilience measures, such as civil protection and preparedness, defence, and the preservation of critical infrastructure.
Therefore, according to the Vice-Minister, a significant challenge arises at the national level to rationally distribute investments between those intended for increasing security and other important areas, such as increasing the competitiveness and resilience of the country's economy, promoting innovation, digital transformation, and others.
In the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, the European Commission has proposed a fundamental overhaul of the EU budget, aiming to significantly increase the EU's capacity to implement key policies and address new and emerging challenges. The EC proposes to merge the previously separate policies – Cohesion, Agriculture, Fisheries, Internal Security, Social Climate and International Cooperation (Interreg) – into one single fund. It is emphasized that the competitiveness of the entire EU remains an important concern.
“While investing in Lithuania's security, we must not forget that our ability to compete in Europe and the world requires cultivating local talents, promoting breakthrough technologies, creating favourable conditions for businesses to borrow and attract investments,” the Vice-Minister emphasizes.
Last updated: 25-09-2025
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