- May 18, 2022
- Posted by: admin
- Category: News
Today, the Commission has set out plans in a Communication for the EU’s immediate response to address Ukraine’s financing gap, as well as the longer-term reconstruction framework. This Communication follows from the European Council call to address the consequences of the war in Ukraine via a dedicated Europe-led effort.
Immediate response and short terms needs
Since the Russian aggression started, the EU has significantly stepped up its support, mobilising around €4.1 billion to support Ukraine’s overall economic, social and financial resilience in the form of macro-financial assistance, budget support, emergency assistance, crisis response and humanitarian aid. Military assistance measures have also been provided under the European Peace Facility, amounting to €1.5 billion, that will be used to reimburse Member States for their in-kind military support to Ukraine and the mobilisation of an additional €500 million is under way.
The war resulted in a collapse of tax, export and other revenues, compounded by large scale illegal appropriation of assets and export goods including in the agricultural sector, while essential expenditure skyrocketed. The International Monetary Fund has estimated Ukraine’s balance of payments gap until June at roughly €14.3 billion ($15 billion).
Addressing Ukraine’s significant short-term financial support to sustain basic services, address humanitarian needs and fix the most essential destroyed infrastructure will require a joint international effort, in which the Union will be ready to play its part.
The Commission therefore envisages to propose granting Ukraine in 2022 additional macro-financial assistance in the form of loans of up to €9 billion, to be complemented by support from other bilateral and multilateral international partners, including the G7. This would be paid in tranches with long maturities and concessional interest rates thanks to the guarantee from the Union budget. To make this possible, Member States should agree on making available additional guarantees. Together with grant support from the EU budget for subsidising the related interest payments, this will ensure well-coordinated and highly concessionary support to Ukraine.
Reconstruction of Ukraine
A major global financial effort will be required to rebuild the country after the war damage, to create the foundations of a free and prosperous country, anchored in European values, well integrated into the European and global economy, and to support it on its European path. While Russia’s aggression continues, the overall needs for the reconstruction of Ukraine are not yet known. Nevertheless, it is important to design the main building blocks of this international effort already now. Support will have to have a medium to long-term horizon.
The reconstruction effort should be led by the Ukrainian authorities in close partnership with the European Union and other key partners, such as G7 and G20 partners, and other third countries, as well as international financial institutions and international organisations. Partnerships between cities and regions in the European Union and those in Ukraine will enrich and accelerate reconstruction.
An international coordination platform, the ‘Ukraine reconstruction platform’, co-led by the Commission representing the European Union and by the Ukrainian government, would work as an overarching strategic governance body, responsible for endorsing a reconstruction plan, drawn up and implemented by Ukraine, with administrative capacity support and technical assistance by the EU. It would bring together the supporting partners and organisations, including EU Member States, other bilateral and multilateral partners and international financial institutions. The Ukrainian Parliament and the European Parliament would participate as observers.
The ‘RebuildUkraine’ reconstruction plan endorsed by the platform, based on a needs assessment, would become the basis for the European Union and the other partners to determine the priority areas selected for financing and the specific projects. The platform would coordinate the financing sources and their destination to optimise their use, as well as monitor progress in the implementation of the plan.
To support the reconstruction plan, the Commission proposes to set up the ‘RebuildUkraine’ Facility as the main legal instrument for the European Union’s support, through a mix of grants and loans. It would be embedded in the EU budget, thereby ensuring the transparency, accountability and sound financial management of this initiative, with a clear link to investments and reforms. It would build on the EU’s experience under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, but adapted to the unprecedented challenges of reconstructing Ukraine and accompanying it on its European path. The Facility itself would have a specific governance structure ensuring full ownership by Ukraine.
A significant emphasis will be put on the rule of law reforms and fight against corruption, whilst investments, brought in line with climate, environmental and digital EU policies and standards, will help Ukraine emerge stronger and more resilient from the devastation of the Russian invasion.
The unforeseen needs created by war in Europe are well beyond the means available in the current multiannual financial framework. Therefore, new financing sources will have to be identified.
The architecture suggested is sufficiently flexible to accommodate such new financing sources. The additional grants to be made available to Ukraine could be financed either by additional contributions from Member States (and third countries should they wish to do so) to the Facility and existing Union programmes, thus benefitting from the Union’s financial mechanisms and safeguards for the proper use of funds, or through a targeted revision of the multiannual financial framework. These sources could also finance the loans to be granted to Ukraine under the Facility. However, given the scale of the loans that are likely to be required, options include raising the funds for the loans on behalf of the EU or with Member States national guarantees.
Members of the College said:
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: “The unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused terrible human suffering and massive destruction across the country, forcing millions of innocent Ukrainians to flee their homes. Ukraine can count on the EU’s full support. The EU will continue to provide short-term financial support to Ukraine to meet its needs and keep basic services running. And we stand ready to take a leading role in the international reconstruction efforts to help rebuild a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. This means, investments will go hand in hand with reforms that will support Ukraine in pursuing its European path.”
Executive Vice-President for an Economy that works for people, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “The EU’s support for Ukraine is unwavering. We will continue using all available means to help our friend and neighbour to resist Russia’s unprovoked and brutal aggression. We need to address both keeping the country running on a daily basis, and working to rebuild the country. To address Ukraine’s most urgent needs, we envisage to provide emergency loans under a new macro-financial assistance programme. In the longer term the EU will lead a major international financial effort to rebuild a free and democratic Ukraine – working with partners such as the G7, international financial institutions and in close coordination with Ukraine itself. We will stand with Ukraine at every step of the way, to repair the destruction caused by Russia’s war and to create a brighter future and new opportunities for its people”.
High Representative/Vice-President for a Stronger Europe in the World, Josep Borrell said: “The EU will remain steadfast in its solidarity with and support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unjustifiable, and illegal war of aggression. We continue to provide Ukraine with military assistance measures.”
Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said: “The European Union will continue to stand by Ukraine and its people and to play a key role in all political, humanitarian, resilience and economic efforts to address the short-term and long-term needs that will bring Ukraine back to peace and socio-economic recovery. I am convinced that the new “Ukraine reconstruction platform” led jointly by Ukraine and the Commission, as well as our proposed ‘RebuildUkraine’ Facility, will help offer Ukraine a better future. This will be done in close coordination with all donors”.
Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni said: “The destruction Russia has unleashed on Ukraine has no precedent in postwar Europe; nor does its disregard for the international order so painstakingly constructed over decades. Today the European Commission is setting out a path to help a new Ukraine rise from the ashes of war, just as our Union emerged from the rubble of 1945. Together with the Ukrainian authorities and in cooperation with our international partners, we will mobilise the funding Ukraine needs to ride out this storm – and to ‘build back better’ its economic and social infrastructure.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi said: “In the last weeks we have witnessed the terrible loss of lives and the devastation this war caused in the infrastructure in Ukraine. We have swiftly mobilised assistance and are committed to support rebuilding Ukraine. The reconstruction should fully reflect the needs identified by Ukraine and be firmly anchored in the country’s reform agenda”.
Background
The EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine is long-standing and has delivered results. The EU has provided significant financial assistance to Ukraine, which over the years from 2014 to 2021 amounted to €1.7 billion in grants under the European Neighbourhood Instrument, €5.6 billion under five macro-financial assistance programmes in the form of loans, €194 million in humanitarian aid and €355 million from foreign policy instruments. The EU provides its support to Ukraine for policy development and comprehensive reforms, with strong involvement from Member States in a Team Europe approach. Among the flagship programmes are those on decentralisation, public administration reform and anti-corruption.
Before and during the war, the EU has worked closely with European financial institutions to support Ukraine. Since 2014, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have mobilised over €10 billion in loans to Ukraine. In recent weeks, the European Investment Bank has disbursed €668 million to the Ukrainian budget. The EU is also working in close cooperation with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which have been key partners in the Ukrainian efforts since 2014.
