Estonia receives preliminary approval for €32 million in EU border surveillance funding

The European Commission has given preliminary approval for nearly €32 million in funding to strengthen Estonia’s eastern border surveillance infrastructure, supporting a project scheduled for completion by the end of 2029.

The funding will allow Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board, working with the Estonian Defence Forces, to continue developing an integrated system for detecting drones and monitoring activity along the country’s eastern border, which also forms part of the European Union’s external frontier.

The investment is intended to improve monitoring of land and river border areas and support the detection of unauthorised crossings, smuggling and other cross-border activities.

According to Estonia’s Ministry of the Interior, the project will be financed through the EU’s Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument. Estonia will provide an additional 10% in national co-financing.

The funding decision is preliminary, with the final allocation still to be completed. The project nevertheless represents a substantial EU-backed investment in Estonia’s border infrastructure over the next three years.

Source: Estonian Ministry of the Interior
https://www.siseministeerium.ee/uudised/eesti-saab-euroopa-liidult-ligi-32-miljonit-eurot-idapiiri-drooniseire-tugevdamiseks