Developing joint responses to the most important challenges facing the eastern border regions of the European Union and assessing the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and hybrid warfare on areas along the EU’s eastern border – these are the main objectives of the Forum, which will be held on October 28 in Białystok at the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Center.
The meeting will be a continuation of the discussion and an extension of the conclusions reached during the High-Level Conference of the Eastern Border Regions of the EU, which took place on June 25 and 26, 2025, in Białowieża (Podlaskie Voivodeship).
The main objective of this event will be to thoroughly assess the impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing hybrid war on the EU’s border regions. This is linked to the need to analyze the key challenges that this unique situation poses for the eastern border regions, as well as the obligation to develop joint responses and conclusions that will serve as a platform for cooperation on security, resilience, and development in Europe’s eastern border areas.
The conference programme includes discussions on, among other things, the content of the “White Paper on European Defense Readiness 2030” and proposals to increase defense spending. Participants will also discuss the “Pact for Eastern Border Regions” proposed by Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Raffael Fitto, which is based on four pillars:
– I – security and defence,
– II – economic and infrastructure development,
– III – European cooperation and solidarity,
– IV – increasing resilience and crisis preparedness.
The pact aims to promote European cooperation at various levels, focusing on physical and economic security, supporting defence, rebuilding business confidence and rebranding regions affected by the decline in tourism.
The panel discussions will focus on:
– practical strategies for the development and survival of companies in the eastern borderlands,
– cybersecurity and digital transformation as the foundation of border resilience,
– technological transformation and smart specialisations to ensure the competitiveness and resilience of border regions,
– new models and sources of financing for business development and business responses to demographic and social challenges.
Among the invited guests and speakers are: Donald Tusk – Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz – Minister of National Defence, Piotr Serafin – Commissioner for the Budget, Raffaele Fitto – Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Aija Kalnaja – European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and many representatives of the world of politics, European institutions, business, the financial sector, the military, science and the media.
The event is organised by the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the City of Białystok.
The main content partner is Evoluma Industrial Cluster, and the partners of the Forum are the Polish Construction Cluster and the Suwałki Special Economic Zone.
The event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of National Defence. Institutional partners include the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG) and the European Commission.
Registration and Forum programme: https://forum.investinpodlaskie.pl