Ukraine, France sign grant agreement for EUR 200 mln
First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and Ambassador of the French Republic to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière signed a grant agreement to assist in the restoration and support of critical infrastructure and priority sectors of the Ukrainian economy for a total of EUR 200 million.
"This is EUR 200 million in grants that companies in France and Ukraine and local authorities can use to support critical infrastructure and mining operations in Ukraine. So, the intergovernmental agreement was signed on June 7. Today we are signing a financing agreement," Veyssière said during the signing of the agreement in Kyiv on Monday.
He explained that projects for financing are currently being discussed by the Ukrainian side, decisions are being made on them, after which they will be accepted by the French side. Soon after, these funds can be used.
According to the French ambassador, the implementation of the projects may begin this year, in a few weeks.
"Many projects worth more than EUR 700 million have been presented, but there are only EUR 200 million. This means that French companies are ready to be active here, to interact with Ukraine, they believe in the future of Ukraine, as we do. So this is very encouraging. This is very good," Veyssière emphasized.
In turn, Svyrydenko said that at the moment she cannot name specific agreements that will be implemented within this agreement, since it is necessary to wait for their approval by the French side.
According to her, from the Ukrainian side, the parties within the agreement will mainly be ministries as central executive bodies that initiated the projects.
At the same time, she emphasized that all projects within the signed agreement will be aimed at demining the territory of Ukraine, as well as the sphere of health protection, maintenance of critical infrastructure, water supply and energy.
"By agreement of the parties, taking into account all these challenges related to energy, we want at least EUR 60 million of this amount to be directed to maintaining energy and implementing water supply projects," Svyrydenko stated.
