By KYIV. Dec 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted an Action Plan for Ukraine for 2023-2026 with a record amount of EUR 50 million, the press service of the Council of Europe reported on Wednesday, December 14.
"The Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction Action Plan (2023-2026) was developed in close consultation with the Ukrainian authorities. It is part of our organisation’s contribution to the process of rebuilding and recovery of a country that has faced brutal aggression by the Russian Federation and massive destruction," said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić.
"The Council of Europe remains fully committed to supporting and assisting Ukraine in these difficult times. This assistance and support will figure high on the agenda of the forthcoming summit of the Heads of State and Government to be held in Reykjavik in May next year," she added.
In addition to providing continued support to the country’s efforts to honour its obligations as a Council of Europe member State, the Action Plan aims to support Ukraine’s European perspective reform agenda, following the decision by the European Council on 23 June 2022 to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine. The overall budget for the four-year co-operation framework is estimated at EUR 50 million, making it the largest ever budget for a country-specific Council of Europe Action Plan.
The Council of Europe will work with the Ukrainian authorities to address their urgent needs and priorities including supporting the implementation of the steps outlined in the European Commission’s opinion on Ukraine’s membership application, notably in the areas of constitutional justice, combatting corruption and money-laundering; developing an independent, effective and trusted justice; promoting freedom of expression and freedom of media, strengthening protection of the rights of national minorities.
The Action Plan will be accompanied by significant activities by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The CEB will provide a relevant contribution by part-financing investment projects in Ukraine with high social added value, aimed at improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups. The CEB will be able to operate directly in the country as soon as the final phase of the ongoing process for Ukraine to become a member of the Bank is completed. To date, the Bank has deployed loans and grants in support of CEB member countries hosting refugees fleeing the war.
