The team of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development met with representatives of the European Commission. The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Alyona Shkrum, Deputy Ministers Maryna Denysiuk, Oleksii Riabykin, Nataliia Kozlovska, and Director of the Investment Policy Department Artem Husak. The discussion focused on Ukraine’s implementation of the Ukraine Facility Plan indicators and the status of implementation of the investment component of the Ukraine Investment Framework, including guarantees from the EU and a portfolio of joint projects with the European Investment Bank.

The European Commission was represented by Elena Višnar Malinovská, Head of the Reconstruction and Accession Unit, Gabriel Blanc, Team Leader – Reconstruction of Ukraine, Jeanne Robles, Policy Officer, Ukraine Service, Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Ukraine, and others.

“I am glad to welcome the representatives of the European Commission in Ukraine. Such meetings are extremely important for us, as they help us to better coordinate our efforts and find common ground on further cooperation. In particular, when it comes to interaction with the European Investment Bank and the implementation of the Ukraine Investment Framework component.

At the end of the year, we reviewed our portfolio of projects with the EIB, so we expect to have available resources in the near future. Our goal is to help and rebuild now, quickly and efficiently. We need to receive stable funding to achieve this. We are ready to work on improving all processes on our part.

We look forward to the cooperation of the European Commission to obtain all the necessary guarantees and, as a result, to more efficiently implement reconstruction projects in Ukraine with appropriate funding,” Alyona Shkrum said.

The Ukraine Facility consists of 3 components, the second of which is the Ukraine Investment Framework, which is being implemented by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development. It provides guarantees and grants worth EUR 8 billion. It is expected that over the next few years, the implementation of this component will attract up to EUR 40 billion of public and private investment to Ukraine.

In his speech, Oleksii Riabykin emphasised the importance of initiatives at the regional level, such as the Ukraine Recovery Programme III, implemented by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development in cooperation with the European Investment Bank. He gave an example of successful project implementation in Ukrainian communities and noted that they still had a great demand for similar assistance from the European Union. According to him, it helps to significantly strengthen the capacity of communities.

Oleksii Riabykin also spoke about the progress of the decentralisation reform, which was one of the main components of the Ukraine Plan.

“Despite the war, the decentralisation reform continues. As part of this process, the Ukraine Plan envisages a number of changes to the legislation of our country. Our Ministry is actively involved in the development of relevant draft laws. In particular, one of them is currently under consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It is expected to be adopted in the first quarter of this year.

It is important for us to continue the reform primarily because we realise that capable communities are already capable of ensuring the country’s sustainability. We have to help them in all areas: from empowering local authorities as part of the reform to supporting the implementation of recovery projects in cooperation with international partners,” the Deputy Minister said.

In her turn, Maryna Denysiuk told the European Commission representatives about the state of implementation of the public investment management reform. According to her, the Action Plan for 2024-2028 provides for a number tasks for the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development as part of the reform. First of all, it involves participation in the development of a methodological framework for public investment management.

In addition, together with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development evaluates public investment projects, in particular, in terms of compliance with regional policy priorities and technical aspects of implementation.

“The unified project portfolio is an important result of the development of the public investment management system. The experience gained during its formation should be used to develop a methodology, evaluate and prioritise public investment projects – to create additional opportunities for communities to initiate new projects.

It is very important for us that the reform of the Public Investment Management System contributes to the development and reconstruction of territorial communities. Recovery needs should be clearly structured. It is important to strengthen the institutional capacity of communities. We hope that PPFs with the support of the World Bank and the EIB will significantly help us in this process,” Maryna Denysiuk said.

In the context of the public investment management reform, Alyona Shkrum also spoke about the DREAM system as an important component of the reform implementation. It is this system that will become the basis for digitalising the portfolio of public investment projects that meet the defined strategic priorities of national and regional development. It is through DREAM that territorial communities will be able to submit public investment projects.

In her speech, Nataliia Kozlovska spoke about the priorities for the development and reform of housing policy in Ukraine.

“For the Ukraine Plan and in order to ensure access to housing for people in need, it is necessary to create a comprehensive political and regulatory framework in the housing sector. We are constantly working on this.

We are also actively developing projects aimed at developing and implementing a financially sustainable model of social and affordable housing.

The Ministry has engaged experts from international organisations to obtain information on the experience of other countries in providing housing and recommendations on housing policy in Ukraine,” said Natalia Kozlovska.

Summing up, Maryna Denysiuk emphasised the importance of further support for such coordination with the European Commission. She noted the productivity of such communication in finding solutions to cooperation problems and moving forward in common areas, primarily for the speedy reconstruction of Ukraine.