Brussels, 04/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - A coordination meeting on aid for Ukraine will be held in Brussels on Tuesday in order to prepare for an international donors' conference planned for the end of the year, the European Commission announced on Friday 4 July.
The meeting, which is expected to bring together representatives from the EU, from the member states and from Ukraine, as well as external donors, will be chaired by Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to “discuss key short- and medium-term priorities for Ukraine”, and to coordinate financial support before the international conference that the Commission wants to organise to help Ukraine address its needs and reform its economy, said a Commission spokesperson. “Ukraine must make the reforms” that have been asked of it in exchange for the aid pledged by the EU and IMF, “but it's important for it to receive support and solidarity”, the spokesperson added. On 27 June, Ukraine sealed its moving closer to the EU with a historic association agreement - despite Russian opposition.
As part of this association agreement, the EU has set up a massive aid plan of loans and donations worth at least €11 billion for Ukraine. The EU's assistance amounts to €3 billion - including €1.5 billion in the form of subsidies and €1.6 billion in the form of loans for macro-financial assistance.
“The EU-Ukraine association agreement recently signed in Brussels is a tangible step towards a more modern, democratic and prosperous Ukraine. It needs now to be implemented, together with the European agenda for reforms that will bring the country closer to the European Union. Ukraine ownership of this process is essential. But so is international support and solidarity. The European Union has been providing wide-ranging political, financial and technical assistance to Ukraine's domestic reform process. Other international donors have also been very active. We will meet on 8 July, together with the Ukrainian government, to ensure effective coordination of our common efforts”, said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. (LC)