European Commission plans “operational decisions” to unlock €50 bln for Ukraine – von der Leyen

The European Union was urged to approve the four-year Ukraine Facility aid plan for Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion euros as soon as possible within the medium-term review of the EU budget.

European Pravda reports that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered a message to EU countries during a press conference for the arrival of European Commissioners in Belgium, which is currently presiding over the EU Council for the first half of the year.

During the speech, the head of the EC told about the latest massive Russian missile attacks on Ukraine and the decision of the EU leaders to approve the start of negotiations with it.

After that, Von der Leyen stressed that "we must urgently move forward on the issue of stabilizing our financial aid to this country."

"The Commission will come to the European Council with operational decisions to ensure we can agree on the Ukraine Facility. Then Belgium will face the key task of transforming the political agreement on the program through the Council of the EU and the European Parliament as soon as possible," added the President of the European Commission.

The head of the European Commission emphasized that the Ukraine Facility is a central element of reviewing the multi-year EU budget. But she added that this revision should be completed under the Belgian presidency so the EU could continue implementing other political priorities.

On a clarifying question, von der Leyen refused to reveal the essence of "operational decisions." However, she hinted that they are necessary in the event of a lack of consensus regarding the Ukraine Facility – it was, as you know, blocked by Hungary at the last EU summit.

"It is important to know that we have just allocated the last tranche of our support package for Ukraine for 2023 in the amount of 18 billion euros before Christmas. This will help Ukraine to finance its needs for the beginning of this year. This gives us a little freedom of action, but of course, we have to work as persistently and quickly as possible to fulfill the promise," the president said.

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The European Commission proposed to increase the EU's common budget by 66 billion euros to cover expenses for the next four years, part of which will go to Ukraine's financial support in the amount of 50 billion euros.

On October 3, the European Parliament supported the initiative, which provides for the creation of the Ukrainian Fund – a new financial instrument for Ukraine with a volume of up to 50 billion euros from 2024 to 2027.

On November 30, European Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the EU agreed on a financial aid package for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros.

At the summit of EU leaders in Brussels on December 14, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unexpectedly softened on the issue of Ukraine's accession to the EU after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz persuaded him to leave the room to drink coffee. Orbán effectively abstained after making it straightforward for weeks that he would resist any move to start talks.

But a few hours later, he spoiled Kyiv's celebration moment and pleased the Kremlin by vetoing a four-year, €50 bln bailout package.

In this regard, the leaders agreed on an extraordinary summit dedicated to this issue, which will be held on February 1.

In order to approve the agreement on providing an aid package to Ukraine for 50 billion euros in 2024-2027, the member states of the European Union are considering depriving Hungary of the right to vote.

For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes achieving a principled decision at the summit on creating the Ukrainian Fund (Ukraine Facility) in the amount of 50 billion euros for 2024-2027.

This is a clear signal that Ukraine's financial support from the European Union will continue. Ukraine is waiting for the completion of all necessary legal procedures in January 2024, which will allow it to receive the appropriate financing as soon as possible.