By BRUSSELS. Dec 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has said that in the coming days, the last in 2023 disbursement of the EUR 1.5 billion of the macro-financial assistance (MFA), which will make it possible to build a small but important bridge necessary for further financing of EUR 50 billion until 2027. This issue will be discussed at an extraordinary EU meeting to be held in late January – early February 2024.
She said this on Friday in Brussels at a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting.
She said that the disbursement of EUR 1.5 billion will be made in the next few days. This will help Ukraine finance its needs at the beginning of the year 2024. It is important to build a small but important bridge (before new funding).
The president of the European Commission said that the EU will use the time before the European Council meeting so that either we have the agreement of the 27 member states or we will work on alternatives that will allow us to make operational decisions when the time comes. It is very important for us that there will be consistent, predictable and reliable financing for Ukraine. It is important for Ukraine, for the business environment and investors, von der Leyen said.
In turn, President of the European Council Charles Michel expressed confidence that a solution that will allow the EU to continue to financially support Ukraine will be found because the initial point is that the EU has the support of 26 leaders to deliver on its promises.
And the other point is the so-called ‘negotiation box’ – the latest proposals have been encouraged by 26 member states, which means that the EU will start the next meeting knowing that 26 member states support the same goals, the same priorities, including a EUR 50 billion package for Ukraine over four years.
The EU has different tools available to enabling the EU to fulfill its promises, he assured.
