14/11/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 14 November, the European Commission gave a positive opinion on the payment to Ukraine of a second tranche of macro-financial assistance totalling €4.1 billion under the €50 billion ‘Ukraine Facility’ for the 2024-2027 period (see EUROPE 13409/8), deeming that the nine preconditions for this payment had been met. These include a revision of the code of criminal procedure to improve the fight against corruption, rules for regulatory and administrative simplification, an update of the national strategy for social and territorial cohesion, the adoption of implementing measures to strengthen the integrity and transparency of the wholesale market in electricity, and the adoption of a law on the prevention and reduction of industrial pollution. It is now up to the EU Council to give the final go-ahead for the payment of the financial aid. (MB)