Four months after the outbreak of
war in Ukraine, the EU is already looking to Kyiv's future.
With the start of its EU accession procedures, a post-war
reconstruction plan has been drafted in line with that process.
In this context, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is ready to
play an important role in the financial management of the
solidarity fund proposed by Brussels.
"Just a few months from the invasion, in collaboration with the
European Commission, we have prepared a solidarity package for
Ukraine that earmarks 668 million euros of direct immediate
assistance for the Ukrainian government to address its most
immediate financial requirements" says the head of the EIB's
mission in Ukraine, Jean-Erik De Zagon, in an interview for the
bi-annual TerritoriALL report, drafted by the ESPON cooperation
programme, which is specialized in regional studies.
While the priority remains "immediate support to address the
humanitarian crisis and stop the aggression", Brussels has
already started working on a post-war reconstruction plan, says
De Zagon, stressing the role of the EU and other key partners in
this phase.
Ukraine's rebirth will entail a 'reconstruction platform', says
the EIB's chief representative in Ukraine, "a strategic,
high-level organ" headed by the Ukrainian government together
with the European Commission, which would reunite the partners
and the supporting organizations, including EU member States ,
other bilateral and multilateral partners and international
financial institutions, including the EIB.
"The EU's support for reconstruction will be linked to the
implementation of reforms and anti-corruption measures in line
with (Kyiv's) European path", says De Zagon, adding that the
reconstruction plan would become the basis for the EU and the
other partners to determine the prioritary areas to fund.
The EIB, which opened a regional office in Kyiv in 2007, is
ready to play this role.
In the last 15 years the bank has invested seven billion euros
in Ukraine in social and economic infrastructure, transport and
connectivity, energy efficiency, the development of SMEs,
climate action and innovation.
After the invasion the bank responded to Kyiv's request for
emergency support and is now gearing to support the post-war
reconstruction plans.
"As an EU bank we are ready to support the (reconstruction)
efforts," concludes De Zagon.
"We have the instruments, the competences, the capacity for
consultancy and the right relations in Ukraine to prepare the
investments, guarantee their full compliance with the EU's
policies and objectives, and attract private-sector
investments".
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