23/08/23 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission paid, on Tuesday 22 August, a further tranche of €1.5 billion to Ukraine as part of the €18 billion Macro-financial Assistance that the European Union has granted for 2023. This assistance is being used to fund the immediate needs of a country in the grip of Russian military aggression: paying civil servants’ salaries and pensions, maintaining public services, rehousing displaced persons and repairing critical infrastructure. According to the Commission, Ukraine is being transparent about the use of the financial support provided and is implementing the agreed conditional measures (strengthening the Rule of law, improving the gas distribution system). The EU has so far paid €12 billion of the €18 billion allocated. The Commission suggests creating a €50 billion Ukraine Facility to cover part of the country’s financial needs over the period 2024-2027 (see EUROPE 13223/2). (MB)