EU’s 6th macro-financial assistance program: Stefanishyna outlines timeframe

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna expects that Kyiv will agree on the 6th macro-financial assistance program of the European Union in the first half of 2022.

"This is one of the most stable financial programs which allows us to plan the relevant development costs every year. In addition, we have already established a practice of agreeing on the terms of each tranche of this macro-financial assistance with the European Union," Stefanishyna said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

According to her, Ukraine fulfilled all the conditions and received funds in full under the previous, 5th program.

"We had no idea if we needed the 6th program when we signed the 5th program, but now we can say for sure that we have established a clear process of cooperation with the EU… So we are ready for the 6th program… We hope that the next macro-financial assistance program will be concluded in the first half of 2022," she said.

This program is a clear and stable mechanism for obtaining funds, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

As reported, in July 2020, Ukraine and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of an "emergency" (5th) macro-financial assistance program of up to EUR 1.2 billion. In December 2020, Ukraine received from the EU the first tranche with a nominal amount of EUR 600 million, in October 2021 – the second tranche of EUR 600 million.

In total, Ukraine received EUR 5.01 billion under the EU’s five macro-financial assistance programs in 2014-202.

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