The European Union has rejected a joint funding request from Lithuania and Estonia for a project aimed at enhancing surveillance and security along their eastern borders. This initiative, known as the “drone wall,” was designed to track and neutralize drones at the borders with Russia and Belarus.
The project, first proposed in May 2023 by Lithuania’s then-Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė, aimed to improve border security on NATO’s eastern flank. It sought to establish a coordinated system using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), anti-drone technologies, and real-time data sharing between countries.
While initially proposed by Lithuania, Estonia took the lead in submitting the funding application, with Latvia, Poland, Norway, and Finland expressing support. However, the EU rejected the proposal earlier this year.
The project had an estimated cost of 12 million euros. Of that, 4 million euros were earmarked for Estonia, and 2.5 million euros each for Lithuania and other regional partners. Despite the rejection of funding, Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT) has not abandoned the idea.
VSAT Commander Rustamas Liubajevas remains optimistic, stating that the lack of funding does not pose a major issue. “We can explore other funding sources to finance this project,” Liubajevas said.
Although the EU turned down the “drone wall” funding, Lithuania is still receiving financial support for drone-related projects. The EU has allocated 11 million euros to Lithuania for purchasing UAVs, including 3 million euros for anti-drone systems.
The goal of the “drone wall” was to enhance real-time data sharing and conduct pilot programs along selected border sections. Lithuania’s Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič emphasized that border coordination would continue through existing channels. He also suggested that applying for EU funding again could be an option in the future.
This project is different from the European Sky Shield Initiative, led by Germany, which aims to develop a continent-wide air defense system within NATO. The “drone wall” proposal focuses on localized defense against hybrid threats, including smuggling, surveillance, and border provocations.
In addition to this initiative, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland have called on the EU to invest more in strengthening the eastern border to counter both military threats and hybrid tactics allegedly used by Russia.
The letter, sent to EU leadership, stresses the importance of developing new defense infrastructure to face these growing challenges. This plea comes amid concerns from Western intelligence agencies about rising Russian sabotage and destabilizing actions across Europe.
