EU reveals date of first payment from €90 billion Ukraine loan
Ukraine will receive the first €3.2 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan program in the coming days, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said during the YES Dinner Discussion event in Gdansk.
According to Kos, the first tranche will be disbursed on June 25.
"Tomorrow we will disburse the first 3.2 billion from the loan," she said.
She noted that the funds will be part of the EU’s €90 billion loan program for Ukraine and will be used to support the country during the war and its subsequent recovery.
Kos also expressed hope that the European Union would be able to open five additional negotiation clusters on Ukraine’s accession before the summer recess. She recalled that the first negotiation cluster was opened on June 15.
The commissioner stressed that EU enlargement reflects Ukraine’s contribution to the security of the entire continent.
“No enlargement process can capture what the country is contributing to Europe already. Ukraine will become a member of the EU, and we all have to work on this," she said.
Kos added that the coming months should be used to the fullest extent possible to advance Ukraine’s path toward membership.
"We cannot be safe in Europe unless Ukraine becomes a member of the EU," the commissioner concluded.
Ahead of the announcement of the first tranche, the EU revised its structure. According to Euractiv, €5.9 billion that had originally been earmarked for the production and procurement of drones for Ukraine was removed from the initial package. Instead, the first tranche will consist of €3.2 billion in budget support.
Sources cited by the outlet said the decision was linked to technical issues and the necessity of ensuring appropriate control over the use of funds.
