On Monday 16 October in Luxembourg, the US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, and the President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, reaffirmed the determination of the United States and the European Union to continue to support Ukraine financially so that it can continue to combat Russian military aggression on its territory.
“We must not allow our support for Ukraine to be cut off”, said Ms Yellen. She assured the audience that the White House was fully committed to drawing up a new aid package following the recent failed budget negotiations. This new aid package, which will include support for Israel in connection with the crisis in the Middle East, enjoys a “bipartisan majority”, she stressed.
Mr Donohoe noted the unity of views between the two partners on the need for continued support for Ukraine.
The European Commission has proposed stabilising EU macro-financial assistance to Ukraine at €50 billion over the period 2024-2027. On Tuesday in Strasbourg (see EUROPE 13265/4), Parliament will adopt its position on the implementation of this new aid, the amount of which will have to be decided by the Member States before the end of the year as part of the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Praising the work underway within the EU, Ms Yellen said it was important to know that the United States was not alone in this endeavour, in order to avoid any loss of momentum in its desire to help the Ukrainian authorities.
On the macroeconomic situation, Mr Donohoe expressed that close transatlantic economic relations were very important, especially at the present time. “We will weather this storm together”, he said in response to the geopolitical risks associated with Ukraine and the Middle East.
China. Ahead of the EU-US summit in Washington on Friday 20 October, Ms Yellen confirmed that discussions were underway between the two partners on strengthening their economic partnership and ‘de-risking’ excessive exposure of the European and US economies to China (see other news). It is in this context that discussions are taking place on a possible anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese steel, following the one launched in mid-September into electric vehicles imported from China (see EUROPE 13264/21). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)