07/07/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 7 July, the European Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority (561 votes in favour, 6 against, 5 abstentions) a new macro-financial assistance package of €1 billion for Ukraine (see EUROPE 12984/16), the first part of an exceptional package of €9 billion announced in May. This aid will be distributed as a one-off 25-year soft loan. It is conditional on the Ukrainian authorities respecting effective democratic mechanisms (parliamentary pluralism, rule of law) and human rights. See the legislative proposal for macro-financial assistance: https://aeur.eu/f/2jm (MB)