Opportunities to redirect additional resources to strengthen national defense will be more carefully evaluated in the fall / day

The purpose of Fito and Dombrovskis’ visit was to get acquainted with the challenges faced by the Russian -Belarusian border countries and regions. During the meeting, the European Union (EU) funds investment in defense and the future of cohesion policy was discussed after 2027.

The negotiations took place in the context of the EC « Real Europe » initiative and the proposals of amendments to the regulations published in April 2025 in response to geopolitical challenges in Europe and the world. They provide Member States with greater flexibility and incentives so that existing EU funds can be redesigned for security and defense purposes.

The Minister of Finance, welcoming the EC’s proposals for greater flexibility and more support for the security needs of the Member States, said that negotiations between legislators are still ongoing, so it is especially important that protection in cohesion policy is interpreted enough – including not only military mobility but also civil protection, cyber safety and necessary infrastructure.

Aseraden informed that discussions have already been launched in Latvia about the possibilities of reinforcing additional resources for strengthening national defense in the second half of 2025, linking it to budget planning and government priorities, while keeping in mind that funding should be found in existing ministry envelopes. Opportunities will be more carefully evaluated in the autumn, when the content of amendments to the regulations will be agreed in Europe.

Such redistribution would supplement the recently approved amendments to the Cohesion Policy Program, which is already aimed at strengthening security and resilience.

Aseraden said that Latvia is hoping for an operational approval of the mid -term amendments so that investment projects would be implemented in this construction season. In May, Latvia submitted the Pack of this amendment to the EC – more than EUR 170 million for civil protection, energy security, military mobility and dual use infrastructure.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed the next period of the EU funds after 2027, and negotiations were launched in Brussels in February with Commissioner Fito. The Minister of Finance emphasized that cohesion policy has so far been an important driving force between Latvia – now Latvia reaches 70.8% of the EU average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, but the goal is 80% by 2034.

During the meeting, it was concluded that Latvia, as a border country with Russia and Belarus, is facing asymmetric geopolitical risks and significant structural changes in the economy – a sharp drop in transit and trade, high inflation and increasing defense expenses threaten the rate of convergence so far. In these circumstances, further focusing on economic, social and territorial equalization, as well as additional support for countries bordering Russia and Belarus, is particularly important.

Aseraden emphasized that Latvia would need cohesion policy support in the next EU funds to continue to balance economic growth and gradually approach the EU average. It is very important to provide additional and targeted support to Member States bordering Russia and Belarus and facing increased geopolitical risks.

During the meeting, Siliņa stated that the eastern border regions needed additional resources for security and economic development. The government is aware of the importance of the border and is already nationally investing in large -scale financial and human resources, as well as developing infrastructure. In a situation where the large amount of national funding is channeled to security and protection, EU instrument support for border regions is critically important, the Prime Minister said.

The EC President’s chairman of Cohesion and Reform, FITO, welcomed Latvia’s work in the Eastern border to strengthen the border and emphasized that this border was the external border of Europe, not just the national border of Latvia.