22/06/23 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 22 June, the European Commission announced the payment to Ukraine of a further tranche of €1.5 billion as part of the €18 billion macrofinancial assistance package for 2023 (see EUROPE 13186/21). These payments enable Kyiv to honour its financial commitments, pay civil servants and pensions, continue to provide critical public services and finance the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by Russian military aggression. The Commission believes that Ukraine has made “important progress” in strengthening the rule of law and financial stability, improving the functioning of the Ukrainian gas system and promoting a better business climate. On Tuesday, it proposed stabilising macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine at €50 billion until 2027 (see EUROPE 13205/9). (MB)