The Estonian government has decided to allocate approximately €200 million from EU funds to defense purposes, most of which was previously earmarked for combating climate change or waste disposal. This was reported by ERR.
As noted, Estonia was allocated a total of €3.4 billion for the current seven-year EU budget period, which was planned to be used by the end of 2029.
Currently, €812 million of these funds remain unspent, of which the government has decided to allocate about a quarter, or €195 million, to defense purposes in the coming years.
It is reported that €85 million will be withdrawn from the Ministry of Climate, €38 million from the Ministry of Education and Science, €24 million from the Ministry of Economy and Communications, €17 million from the Ministry of Social Affairs, €16 million from the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, €14 million from the Ministry of Justice and Digital Technology, and €3 million each from the Ministry of Culture and the State Chancellery.
According to Triin Tomingas, head of the external financing department at the Ministry of Finance, the ministries have already identified the expenditure items to which this money will be redirected.
In particular, €85 million from the Ministry of Climate’s area of responsibility will be allocated mainly by reducing the funds that were planned to be spent on waste disposal and combating climate change.
To a lesser extent, this will be achieved through measures to ensure outdoor air quality and radiation safety, as well as increased use of renewable energy sources in final consumption.
Tomingas added that the Ministry of Climate also plans to redirect part of the funds allocated to support the modernization of local heating systems in private homes to defense.
The official said that when cutting funding for various areas, only those plans were reviewed where it was clear that demand for certain support measures was lower than expected, or where the goals could be easily achieved with a reduced budget.
EU funds cannot be used to purchase ammunition or military equipment. However, this money can be used to modernize transport infrastructure, on which military mobility also depends.
Estonia has decided to spend €85 million on military mobility. Another €52 million will be allocated to the construction of a defense industrial park in Ermiste, €20 million will be directed to the construction of infrastructure for receiving allied troops and defense forces, and €24 million will be directed to a defense product development program.
In addition, €15 million will be allocated to support scientific research in the defense sector.
While Ukrainians are holding back the Russian aggressor at the cost of their own lives, we Europeans have time to seriously prepare for war with Russia. And we must clearly understand that once the Ukrainians are finished, it will be up to us to go into battle and bear all the losses and hardships of war.
