EU to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova with funding that was initially planned for Russia and Belarus

On 3 May, the European Commission proposed to transfer €26.2 million, originally planned for cooperation during 2021-2027 with Russia and Belarus, to the same programmes with Ukraine and Moldova. 

“Bringing people living on both sides of the external border of the EU closer to each other and strengthening the collaboration between EU regions and local stakeholders with Ukrainian and Moldovan partners is a concrete step to foster peace and security in the region,” said EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira.

This funding may support the development of health services, reinforce institutional capacity of the Ukrainian and Moldovan public authorities, develop education and research projects, or finance social inclusion schemes and job training programmes for refugees. Following the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and in line with the measures adopted by the EU, in March 2022 the European Commission suspended the cooperation with Russia and its ally Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Instrument cross-border cooperation programmes (ENI CBC) and in the Interreg Baltic Sea region programme. As a result, four cross-border Interreg programmes involving Ukraine and Moldova, Hungary/Slovakia/Romania/Ukraine, Poland/Ukraine, Romania/Moldova, and Romania/Ukraine – and two transnational programmes – the Danube Transnational Programme and Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin – will benefit from 68% increased funding for the year 2022.

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Press release