European Commission prepares emergency aid to keep power on and hospitals running in Ukraine
The European Commission is coordinating with Kyiv on Ukraine's most urgent aid needs through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The assistance will help maintain the power supply and keep hospitals and other essential services running.
Source: European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova at a press briefing in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda
Details: A second phone call between European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for Ukraine is scheduled for 10 November. The previous call took place on 9 November.
Quote: "I would say it's a work in progress, but what is clear is that we will keep the lights on in Ukraine, we will keep the hospitals running, and we will keep the essential services functioning. This is already given by the plan that we have for this winter and that the President von der Leyen has announced in February."
Details: Hrncirova said that on 9 November, Lahbib held a detailed conversation with Koretskyi about Ukraine's specific needs.
"We want to deliver the right aid to the right place, to the right people at the right time. It's not just about delivering assistance, it's really about targeting our aid so it can have an impact for Ukrainian people," the spokesperson noted.
She said the EU has dismantled an entire power plant to transport it to Ukraine and use it to assemble the necessary energy infrastructure.
"So today, there will be another call of Commissioner Lahbib with Prime Minister Koretskyi, where we expect already detailed assessment of what and where is needed in Ukraine. Then, based on this, we can prepare the technicalities and we can deliver the aid that is requested by Ukraine," Hrncirova reported.
The spokesperson added that nearly €1.5 billion in humanitarian aid has been allocated to Ukraine since the start of the war. She noted that an additional €52 million had been announced in September, bringing the total humanitarian aid allocated for this year to more than €200 million.
Background:
- Representatives of the European Commission and Ukraine held a meeting on 9 November to identify Ukraine's most urgent needs following Russian attacks on critical infrastructure and discuss possible emergency EU aid, including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
- On 9 November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had agreed during a phone call to activate a special EU mechanism to provide emergency assistance to Ukraine.
- Slovakia has announced plans to provide Ukraine with €1 million for generators, shelters and medical equipment.
- The Dutch government is also allocating €1.2 billion in non-military assistance to Ukraine over the next three years to support recovery and reconstruction and expand opportunities for Dutch businesses.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!