The decision is important not only for Estonia, but also for the whole of Europe, as it is the external border of the EU
Estonian-Russian border (illustrative photo by William John Gauthier from Denmark, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Estonian Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the state budget for 2026 and decided to allocate an additional €17 million for the improvement of the border with Russia. The funds will be used to fulfill already concluded contracts under the EU External Border Strengthening Project, said the press service of the Estonian government.
Estonian Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi said that the government is cutting spending in other areas to finance key priorities.
“In order to continue building the border, investing in artificial intelligence and other changes, we are cutting spending elsewhere. As a result, the budget balance will improve by €15 million,” he said.
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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has prepared amendments to the state budget for 2026which envisage a significant increase in revenues and expenditures due to a loan from the European Union. Revenues are expected to increase by UAH 2.29 trillion, and expenditures by UAH 1.64 trillion. Much of the additional funds will be used to strengthen the security and defense sector. This budget increase will reduce the state budget deficit from 18.5% to 12.1% of GDP.
According to Interior Minister Ihor Taro, the decision is important not only for Estonia but also for the whole of Europe, as it concerns the EU’s external border.
“The decision of the Estonian government gives us confidence that we will not have to think about unfinished decisions, and we will be able to continue all the planned work and complete the construction of the best and safest external border in Europe next year,” Taro said.
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The entire Estonian-Russian border is more than 338 km long, of which about 135 km is land, mostly difficult forested and marshy terrain. 76 km of the border passes through the Narva River, and 127 km through Lake Peipus.
In September 2025, it was reported that over the next two years, almost 40 km of anti-tank ditcheswhich will become part of the expanded border fortifications of the Baltic Defense Zone.
In November, Armed Forces Commander Andrus Merilo said that Estonia was strengthening its border with Russia “dragon’s teeth”, but ready to mine areas.
Defense Minister Hanna Pevkur proposed to postpone to 2026 the budget funds to finance the agreement on construction of a plant for the production of explosives Hexest Materials, scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
- On March 25, 2026, a drone that flew in from Russia, crashed into a power plant pipe, estonian operator Elering has announced plans to “Concrete transformers to protect against drones. EUR 220 million will be allocated to protect the power grid over four years.
- In April, it became known that Estonia plans to deploy a system of 14 radar towers along the border with Russia in the Narva River area by 2027. The new complex should strengthen airspace control and help detect drones amid border violation incidents.