By BRUSSELS. Nov 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Council hopes to take a decision on the proposal of the European Commission on the allocation of monthly macro-financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 1.5 billion in 2023 at the meeting of the European Council on economic issues on December 6, 2022.
A high-ranking diplomat from the Czech Republic, which currently chairs the European Union, told reporters in Brussels on Friday ahead of a meeting of the European Economic Council to be held in Brussels on November 8, during which a preliminary discussion of the proposal will take place.
The official said there is a need to help finance the Ukrainian state, and it is expected that when the commission submits an appropriate proposal, Ukraine in 2023 can receive regular support from the EU. There will be a lot of work, but the European Council is aiming for the Council on Economic Affairs, which is scheduled for December 6, to approve it, so that we enter the new year with this money guaranteed for Ukraine, according to him.
The high-ranking diplomat said the commission has already provided a draft, which more or less outlines exactly how to move forward on this issue. If there is consent of the ministers, then the commission should provide a guide to action, where it should be clearly indicated where the money will be received from. The procedure will be quite complicated, and the European Parliament will also be involved. Therefore, the Council must see what steps can be taken now quickly so that the Member States also give their consent and this money is guaranteed for the next year.
In addition, the ministers will exchange views on the implementation of the sanctions that have already been applied by the European Union to Russia and Belarus.
