On 25 June 2026, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius announced that the Eastern Flank Watch (EFW) project is set to become one of the first European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs), granting it high political status and access to EDIP programme grants. Speaking after the Eastern Flank Summit in Poland, Kubilius stressed that the project is a leading candidate among five EDPCI projects that will soon be evaluated by the Commission and presented to the Council for final approval. He highlighted that Ukraine is participating as a member state in the EDPCI framework, contributing expertise in drone and ground defence.
Kubilius noted that Eastern Flank countries are investing the highest percentage of their GDP in defence and are taking the largest responsibility for using SAFE loans, with a total of €76 billion out of €150 billion allocated to the region. He called for EU-wide solidarity, pointing out that the recent European Council conclusions reaffirmed this principle. The Commissioner reminded that the Commission had already identified EFW as a flagship defence project in its European Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, published last October. He also referenced a Commission Communication on the Eastern Border Region, presented on 18 February 2026 by Vice President Raffaele Fitto, which aims to support the economic and social resilience of the region amid growing threats.
Kubilius emphasised that the region needs assistance not only in defence capabilities but also in infrastructure for military mobility, energy security, and healthcare readiness. He praised the political unity shown at the summit and expressed hope that it would lead to joint proposals for European security architecture, integrated defence market development, and investment in modern defence industries. The Commissioner thanked Poland for hosting the summit, which he described as vital for the defence of the whole Union.