European integration and recovery: how EU projects work in Ukraine

Ukraine is fighting, rebuilding, and moving toward the European Union. How do these processes work in reality, and how is the EU supporting Ukrainians? Find out in the latest episode of the Recovery Diary.

The European Commission has announced the allocation of the third regular tranche under the Ukraine Facility programme. Nearly €3.5 billion will go toward supporting macro-financial stability and implementing key long-term reforms. As of now, Ukraine has already met 13 reform benchmarks focused on EU accession.

The reforms cover a wide range of areas, including the crucial sector of waste management. The EU is helping Ukraine to reform its waste management system, and Ukrainians are actively adopting this experience. Positive results are already being seen in the Kyiv and Lviv regions, and other cities are soon expected to join the initiative.

To accelerate Ukraine’s path to the EU and make the country’s efforts more effective, the European Union has launched the flagship initiative ’Ukraine2EU’. It provides strategic recommendations, expert support for reform implementation, and financial assistance.

The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are implementing a project in Ukraine to ensure reliable energy access for Ukrainians. As part of this project, the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia has received two cogeneration units. This equipment will help provide critical energy to 50,000 residents and over 100 infrastructure facilities.

“All of this is part of a larger €20 million programme through which we are delivering emergency support across the country,” said Peter M. Wagner, Director of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission. “Zaporizhzhia is one of the first cities. Overall, one of the EU’s priorities is to support decentralised energy solutions that allow communities to remain energy-independent even in times of crisis. And we are proud of the efforts of every engineer, every worker, and every family in Zaporizhzhia who are contributing to a strong and sustainable future for Ukraine.”

The reconstruction of housing and social infrastructure is one of the EU’s top priorities. Meeting people’s basic needs is a complex challenge, but thanks to the support from the EU and its member states, Ukraine has a real chance to recover quickly.

Watch the fifth episode of the Recovery Diary to see what projects have already been completed. (link)

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