Sweden resumes technical assistance program in Ukraine

They informed about readiness to provide to Ukraine Eur 25 million as technical assistance in the framework of a new Development Cooperation Strategy of Sweden with the Eastern European states. The total sum of aid rendered to these countries through 2014-2020 will make up Eur 500 million.

The technical assistance will be carried out in the direction of strengthening economic integration with the European Union, democratic values and civil society, which in particular envisages counteraction to corruption and violence, and also concerns energy effectiveness and environmental protection.

“The way to the European Union is accompanied by responsible decisions. First of all, the reforms have to be carried out in the areas of rule of law and human rights protection,” the Minister Hillevi Engström stressed.

The Swedish party expressed trust to the new Government of Ukraine in its aspirations to reform the country.

“Earlier the reforms in Ukraine raised disappointment, for this reason the technical support by Sweden was suspended. However, today we express our readiness to prolong cooperation in this direction,” Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine Andreas von Beckerath declared.

In turn, Volodymyr Hroysman noted that success of reforms in the mentioned areas depended on the change in the system of governance.   

“Decentralizing and local self-government reform of a European type plays a key role. Introducing of it will enable to fight corruption, develop civil society which is crucial on the way towards the development of Ukraine. Everything will depend on what will be held at the local level,” the Vice Prime Minister noted.