Elisa Ferreira, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, stated that "the decision (...) is the result of the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine."
Additionally, the EU determined that regions in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland that were intended to take part in cooperation programs with Russia and Belarus might instead take part in other initiatives already in place.
($1 = 0.9200 euros)
Charlotte Van Campenhout reported; Toby Chopra edited.