The EU has a plan to save regions on Russia’s doorstep from economic malaise

(Gregorio Sorgi and Zoya Sheftalovich – Politico) The European Commission will on Wednesday announce plans to invest in EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine that are suffering economically because of the war. Dwindling investments, reduced cargo traffic and a decline in tourism have delivered an economic blow to the EU’s easternmost regions, chiefly affecting the Baltic countries, Finland and Poland. The Commission’s strategy attempts to give an incentive to international financial institutions to provide funding to those areas — but falls short of putting new money on the table. “The safest borders are not just controlled, they’re alive,” said Niina Ratilainen, a member of the Finnish city council of Turku and the European Committee of the Regions’ Working Group on Ukraine. “Investing in jobs, clean energy and education in EU border regions sets the foundation of real security.” – The EU has a plan to save regions on Russia’s doorstep from economic malaise – POLITICO