The Council of the EU on Monday approved an extra €3.5 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) in financial support for Ukraine, consisting of non-repayable grants and loans, according to a press release from the European Council.
The funding, part of the Ukraine Facility, aims to bolster Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and support its long-term recovery, reconstruction, and modernization. This marks the third disbursement under the facility, which has already provided close to €20 billion to Ukraine since it was launched a year ago.
In its statement, the Council noted that Ukraine had met the necessary conditions laid out in the Ukraine Plan to receive the third payment. The Ukraine Plan outlines the country’s roadmap for recovery and reform, including a timetable for the reforms it intends to undertake as part of its EU accession process over the next four years.
Among the 13 benchmarks that Ukraine has successfully demonstrated progress on are passing reforms to increase renewable energy usage, boosting the autonomy of its energy regulator, and simplifying border-crossing procedures to meet EU standards. Additionally, Ukraine has developed strategies for agriculture and rural development—including initiatives to clear land mines from agricultural areas—and is advancing efforts to list its strategic and critical raw materials.
The Ukraine Facility, which came into force on March 1, 2024, is designed to provide up to €50 billion of stable financing in grants and loans through 2027, aiming to support Ukraine’s structural reforms and economic modernization.
The additional aid is expected to further strengthen Ukraine’s financial stability and accelerate its transformation process, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to supporting the country’s integration into European structures.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is nearing a defence deal with the EU to reset post-Brexit ties, even as his government courts a U.S. trade deal. Talks will culminate at a May summit, aiming to boost cooperation in defence, energy, and youth mobility.
Apple and Meta have been fined €500 million and €200 million respectively by the European Union for breaching the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act, escalating tensions in the transatlantic tech trade dispute.
Hungary’s persistent attempts to undermine EU efforts in support of Ukraine have pushed member states to seriously consider invoking Article 7 of the EU treaty — the bloc’s most severe disciplinary tool, which could strip Budapest of its voting rights, The Guardian reports.
Talks in Paris between U.S. officials and European leaders have kickstarted a new diplomatic format aimed at shaping Ukraine's post-war future, with the involvement of Europe’s three most powerful countries.
Greece has submitted its long-awaited maritime spatial plan to the European Union, outlining how it will organize various maritime activities such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy, and more.
SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.
An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed six people on Monday, coinciding with intensified security operations against militants along the Afghan border.
Rescue teams in Tunisia recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank near Sfax, with search operations continuing for potential missing persons.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
Greece plans to equip its railways with remote control systems and real-time tracking by September, aiming to improve safety after the country’s deadliest train disaster.
SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.
An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed six people on Monday, coinciding with intensified security operations against militants along the Afghan border.
SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.
An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed six people on Monday, coinciding with intensified security operations against militants along the Afghan border.
Rescue teams in Tunisia recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank near Sfax, with search operations continuing for potential missing persons.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment