17/07/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 17 July, the European Commission proposed that the Council of the European Union approve the payment of €4.2 billion in macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine, finding that the nine reforms on which this payment was conditional had been carried out. These reforms include reforming the ‘Economic Security Bureau’, which will become a more effective public authority in the fight against tax evasion and crime, new standards for the governance of large state-owned enterprises and the adoption of a national ‘Energy/Climate’ plan setting out specific measures for the period up to 2030. €4.2 billion is the first instalment of aid under the €50 billion ‘Ukraine Facility’ between now and 2027 (see EUROPE 13344/18). It is now up to the EU Council to give the final go-ahead for payment of the aid. (MB)