EU reveals when Ukraine will receive over €2 billion for reforms

Deputy chief European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podestà has stated that Ukraine will be able to send the EU a request for payment of over €2 billion under the Ukraine Facility mechanism once several bills adopted by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) that are necessary to unblock these funds enter into force.

Source: European Pravda

Quote: "We can indeed welcome the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of several draft laws that support the EU's accession path of Ukraine."

Details: Podestà specified that this concerns five laws, three of which are part of the Ukraine Plan drawn up for the implementation of the Ukraine Facility mechanism, to which European Commissioner Marta Kos drew attention the previous day in a letter to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.

The letter stated that the adoption of 11 bills – which are effectively overdue Ukrainian obligations under the 2025 Euro-reform plan – would unlock up to €4 billion in funding for Ukraine.

"Once the laws enter into force, Ukraine can then include them in the next payment request... which will unblock funds currently suspended under the Ukraine plan," Podestà stated.

The previous day, Marta Kos welcomed the Verkhovna Rada's adoption of a number of laws important for Ukraine's European integration and for receiving financial support from the EU and stated that this would unlock over €2 billion.

This will enable the European Commission to submit a proposal to the Council of the EU in the form of an implementing decision, which the Council will need to approve (unanimity is not required) – after which Ukraine will receive the payment.

The Commission spokeswoman also "particularly welcomed… the progress made on legislation related to the IMF, notably the approval draft law on extending the military levy for three years after the war and the first reading of the draft law on taxation of digital platforms, which were both conditions under the IMF programme".

Background:

• On 7 April, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and as a whole Bill No. 14005 on the digitalisation of court ruling enforcement procedures, which is an indicator under the Ukraine Facility programme.
• Ukrainian MPs also adopted in the final second reading Law No. 12087-d on the integration of Ukraine's and Europe's electricity markets and the law on "industrial visa-free" arrangements with the EU.
• In addition, the Verkhovna Rada approved the Euro-integration Bill No. 14412 "On the principles of delineation and distribution of powers between levels of public governance".

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