23/05/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 23 May, the European Commission disbursed a new tranche of €1.5 billion to Ukraine as part of the European Union’s €18 billion macro-financial assistance for 2023 (see EUROPE 13169/2). This aid allows Kyiv to ensure the payment of civil service salaries and pensions, to continue to operate essential public services during Russia’s war of aggression and to restore destroyed infrastructure. This payment comes after the Commission found that the Ukrainian authorities were properly implementing the required conditional measures in terms of transparency in the use of the aid, respect of the rule of law, and management of the gas distribution system. At the G7 summit, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, mentioned preparations for EU macro-financial assistance post-2023 (see EUROPE 13185/22). (MB)