Lithuania's Ministry of Finance announced a high-level international conference in Vilnius on 24 April 2026 on strengthening the economic and financial resilience of the European Union’s eastern border, bringing together finance and economy ministers from Eastern European countries, the European Commission and international financial institutions. The first panel will examine challenges faced by EU eastern border countries, including impacts on the economy, critical infrastructure, public security and resilience, with participation including Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and the finance ministers of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia, alongside Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs. Discussions will also reference the European Commission communication of 18 February 2026 outlining cross-cutting measures for EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, including possible use of different financial instruments and the potential of the EU financial framework for 2028–2034. A second panel will focus on defence and security financing, with contributors including leaders from the Nordic Investment Bank, European Investment Bank, NATO Innovation Fund, DG DEFIS and Nasdaq European Markets, reflecting a shift toward more coordinated, pan-European defence funding and increasingly blurred lines between civilian, dual-use and defence investments. The conference will run from 9:00 to 13:30 at Radisson Blue Hotel Lietuva in Vilnius, with registration and the detailed agenda available via the conference website.

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