The CoR has appointed Mr Adam Struzik (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, as rapporteur for the opinion on EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. A hybrid stakeholder consultation will take place on Tuesday 30 June 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00, in room JDE 51 of the European Committee of the Regions and online (via Interactio – EN/PL).
To support the preparation of his opinion, the rapporteur would like to gather your views and feedback on the following questions:
Guiding questions for the stakeholder consultation:
1. Definition and territorial scope of the EU’s eastern regions
The draft definition proposes that the status of an eastern region should be determined not only on the basis of the administrative border, but also taking into account the actual impact of the war and geopolitical tensions.
Questions:
- Does the European Commission’s current approach to defining the EU’s eastern regions accurately reflect the actual scope of the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and geopolitical tensions in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood?
- What criteria – apart from direct proximity to the EU’s external border – should be taken into account when identifying regions particularly vulnerable to the effects of the current geopolitical situation?
- Do your region’s experiences suggest that the effects of the war and hybrid threats also affect regions not directly bordering Russia, Belarus or Ukraine?
- How should future EU policies take into account the functional and socio-economic dimensions of the war’s impact on regions?
2. Eastern regions as the EU’s frontline regions
The war has shown that eastern regions act as ‘frontline regions’, bearing a disproportionate burden in terms of security, the economy and the functioning of public services.
Questions:
- What are the most significant long-term effects of the war and geopolitical tensions on the development of your region?
- Which challenges currently have the greatest impact on the resilience of regions: security issues, migration pressure, economic disruptions, demographic problems or the strain on public services?
- To what extent do current EU instruments address the actual costs borne by regions on the EU’s eastern flank?
- Are there any regional best practices relating to building social, economic or institutional resilience that could be applied more widely at European level?
3. Security and resilience as added value for development
Security-related investments should bolster regional development, rather than limiting the scope for achieving cohesion policy objectives.
Questions:
- How can investments in security, defense and dual-use infrastructure generate sustainable added value for regional development?
- What examples of dual-use investments could simultaneously strengthen EU security and the competitiveness and investment attractiveness of regions?
- How can we ensure that increased spending on security and resilience also supports the development of public services, the labour market, innovation and residents’ quality of life?
- Do you see a risk that the growing concentration of resources on security objectives may limit the possibilities for financing long-term regional development?
4. Demographics, human capital and public services
Depopulation, the outflow of young people and the deteriorating availability of public services remain among the most serious challenges facing eastern regions.
Questions:
- What measures have proved most effective in countering depopulation and the outflow of young residents?
- What kind of European support do regions need to remain attractive for both residents and investors?
- How should cohesion policy after 2027 support the development of public services in regions particularly affected by demographic changes?
- What skills and qualifications will be key to the future development of the EU’s eastern regions?
5. Territorial cooperation and resilience to hybrid threats
The new geopolitical situation calls for both the development of new forms of territorial cooperation and the strengthening of regions’ resilience to hybrid threats, cyberattacks and disinformation.
Questions:
- What new forms of territorial cooperation should be developed in the EU’s eastern regions?
- How should the future Pact for the EU’s Eastern Regions support the development of new forms of territorial cooperation, in particular with Ukraine, and strengthen the role of Interreg programmes and other instruments of interregional cooperation?
- What support do regions need to counter hybrid threats?
6. Financing development and mobilising investment
The scale of the challenges calls for new European instruments that complement cohesion policy, as well as more effective mobilisation of private capital.
Questions:
- Is the current level of EU support sufficient given the scale of the challenges facing the eastern regions?
- How do you assess the validity of creating dedicated financial instruments for regions most affected by the consequences of war and geopolitical tensions?
- What solutions could effectively increase private investors’ interest in investing capital in regions exposed to heightened geopolitical risk?
- Do the current rules on state aid and investment financing take sufficient account of the specific characteristics of the EU’s eastern regions?
- What role should national budgets play in supplementing European support for these regions?
7. Strategic infrastructure and connectivity
The development of transport, energy, digital and logistics infrastructure is becoming one of the key prerequisites for the EU’s security and competitiveness.
Questions:
- Which infrastructure investments are currently of the greatest importance for the security and resilience of the eastern regions?
- What barriers hinder the implementation of projects related to military mobility, energy, logistics or dual-use infrastructure?
- What role should the EU–Ukraine solidarity corridors and infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s future integration with the EU play?
- Do current EU financial instruments enable the implementation of strategically important investments on an appropriate scale and at an appropriate pace?
8. Multi-level governance and the future of cohesion policy
The EU’s response to geopolitical challenges should be based on the principles of partnership, subsidiarity and a place-based approach.
Questions:
- How can we ensure the genuine involvement of local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of measures targeting the EU’s eastern regions?
- Do current mechanisms for multi-level governance allow for the effective consideration of the needs of territories most vulnerable to the effects of war?
- What should be the place of the eastern regions in the future cohesion policy after 2027?
- How can the place-based character of cohesion policy be preserved whilst the importance of objectives related to security and resilience increases?
- What role should the Committee of the Regions play in shaping future support instruments for the EU’s eastern regions?
If you are unable to participate in the meeting, you may submit your input in writing by either:
- completing the online survey by 22 June 2026, or
- sending your written contribution to COTER@cor.europa.eu by 3 July 2026 at the latest.