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TO FOREIGN, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
European Commission's package of support to Ukraine
WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The European
Commission agreed today a package of support identifying a number of
concrete measures to assist economically and financially Ukraine.
These measures should be seen as the Commission's contribution to a
European and international effort to support Ukraine's economic and
political reforms, and will be presented to the EU Heads of State and
Government ahead of their extraordinary meeting in Brussels on
Thursday March 6.
Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, said that "the
events of the last days have shocked us all and reminded us that
principles that we cherish, like peace, cannot be taken for granted.
It also reminds us how the outdated logic of the balance of powers is
dangerous and wrong and we need to replace it with a logic of
cooperation and dialogue, in full respect of international law" and
added that in parallel to handling the situation in Crimea through
political dialogue in the framework of the Ukrainian constitution,
"the international community should mobilise to help Ukraine stabilise
its economic and financial situation, which will in turn also
contribute to political and social peace."
President Barroso stressed that "the situation in Ukraine is a test of
our capability and resolve to stabilize our neighborhood and to
provide new opportunities for many, not just a few. We need to be up
to this challenge. I believe we are going to be up to this very
important challenge for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole."
Key elements of the package agreed today:
-- ?3 billion from the EU budget in the coming years, ?1.6 billion in
macro financial assistance loans (MFA) and an assistance package of
grants of ?1.4 billion;
-- Up to ?8 billion from the European Investment Bank and the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
-- Potential ?3.5 billion leveraged through the Neighbourhood
Investment Facility;
-- Setting up of a donor coordination platform;
-- Provisional application of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Area when Association Agreement is signed and, if need be, by
autonomous frontloading of trade measures;
-- Organisation of a High Level Investment Forum/Task Force;
-- Modernisation of the Ukraine Gas Transit System and work on reverse
flows, notably via Slovakia;
-- Acceleration of Visa Liberalisation Action Plan within the
established framework; Offer of a Mobility Partnership;
-- Technical assistance on a number of areas from constitutional to
judicial reform and preparation of elections.
More Information:
Remarks by President Barroso on Ukraine
European Commission's support to Ukraine:
-- Press release on a package of support identifying a number of
concrete measures to assist economically and financially Ukraine
-- MEMO setting out the main concrete measures that the Commission is
proposing for the short and medium term to help stabilize the economic
and financial situation in Ukraine, assist with the transition,
encourage political and economic reforms and support inclusive
development for the benefit of all Ukrainians
www.EUintheUS.org & @EUintheUS
SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States
-0- 03/05/2014
/CONTACT: Silvia Kofler, (202) 862 9523, or Kasper Zeuthen, (202) 862 9530
/Web Site: http://www.eurunion.org
CO: Delegation of the European Union to the United States
ST: District of Columbia Europe Ukraine
SU: FOR
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