Von der Leyen – Zelensky – Photo © European Union 2023
(BRUSSELS) – The European Union paid out another EUR 1.5 billion Thursday under its macro-financial aid package for Ukraine, which helps the country with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023.
The Macro-financial Assistance (MFA)+ support is to help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It also allows Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.
The payment comes after the Commission found on 23 April that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing the agreed policy conditions and complied with reporting requirements, which aim to ensure the transparent and efficient use of the funds. Ukraine has notably achieved important progress to strengthen the rule of law, enhance financial stability, improve the functioning of the gas system and promote a better business climate.
Overall, since the start of the war, the support to Ukraine and Ukrainians amounts to over 70 billion. This includes financial, humanitarian, emergency budget and military support to Ukraine from the EU, Member States and the European financial institutions, as well as resources made available to help Member States cater for needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war. More information is available in this factsheet.
On 20 June, the Commission proposed to set up a dedicated Facility providing coherent, predictable and flexible support to Ukraine for the period 2024-2027, for an overall amount of up to 50 billion.
