By KYIV. Sept 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The budget committees of the Verkhovna Rada and the European Parliament (EP) discussed the creation of a program for Ukraine in the budget of the European Union.
According to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada apparatus with reference to Chair of the Budget Committee of the European Parliament Johan Van Overtveldt, the war in Ukraine showed that the current concept of planning the EU budget does not meet its goal. “It needs to be reviewed. Therefore, we want the budget for 2024 to be already based on the new multi-year budget, which will include the Ukraine Facility,” Overtveldt said.
The parties also discussed issues of covering the budget deficit, control over the use of financial assistance from the EU and funding for Ukraine’s defense.
“The budgetary situation in Ukraine is difficult. We have an unprecedented deficit of $42 billion and, unfortunately, it will remain at the same level next year. Therefore, we welcome the proposal of the European Commission to create a special financial instrument “Ukraine Facility,” which will provide for EUR 39 billion of direct budget support for Ukraine. At the same time, next year Ukraine will require at least EUR 18 billion to help cover social spending,” said Roksolana Pidlasa, chair of the budget committee of the Verkhovna Rada.
The MPs gave their European colleagues clarifications on the items of expenditure of the assistance provided, guarantees for donors and reports on the types and ratio of grants, subsidies and loans already received and used.
The parliamentarians also discussed ways to increase the efficiency of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, the introduction of enhanced audit of all processes, the implementation of judicial reform and the export of agricultural products from Ukraine.
“Support for Ukraine is not decreasing. No one has called it into question. We will help. We want to join all institutions that fight corruption and conflicts of interest to ensure transparency. We only need access to information so that we can help,” said a member of the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament Eider Gardiazabal Rubial.
The meeting of the budget committees of the Verkhovna Rada and the European Parliament took place online.
