Statement by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at Government session

Good afternoon, dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians.

For more than 800 days, Ukraine has been fighting not only for its independence, but also for its European choice and European future.

Yesterday, on Europe Day, we remembered the high price we pay for our desire to live freely and in a European way.

Every day we fight for Europe. Every day we are getting closer to EU membership.

In June this year, we plan to start official negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

There is a lot of work to be done in all areas.

The ambassadors of the EU member states supported the Plan for the Ukraine Facility. They agreed with the European Commission’s positive assessment of the Reform Plan presented by our Government. This is an important achievement.

We are waiting for the final approval of the “economic visa-free regime” by the EU Council. This agreement should enter into force in June this year and will extend duty-free and quota-free trade with the EU for another year.

We appreciate the support of our European partners in all areas. Since the beginning of this year, the EU’s budgetary support has already totalled USD 6.5 billion. This is more than half of all funds provided to Ukraine by international partners.

At the same time, the EU is helping us to rebuild our own economy.

Today, we will adopt a decision allowing two Ukrainian banks to receive up to EUR 30 million from the European Investment Bank.

These funds will be used to further support Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses by improving the conditions for concessional lending.

We are also continuing our work with the EU and partners in the area of energy sustainability.

We have decided to allocate UAH 7 billion 168 million to rebuild our power system.

These funds will be used to purchase equipment to restore the high-voltage grid and to better synchronise the power systems of Ukraine and the EU. We are grateful to the World Bank Group for providing grants for the implementation of this project.

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The situation in the energy sector is currently one of the most difficult. Repairs to the grid and power generation are being carried out around the clock.

However, in April we had to import electricity by one third more than in March. Ukrenergo is constantly engaging assistance from Ukraine’s neighbours.

Therefore, I once again call for energy saving, especially in the evening.

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A headquarters is already working on a regular basis to prepare for the next heating season. We attach great importance to the decentralisation of the energy system.

The Energy Efficiency Fund has launched the GreenDIM programme. Condominiums can receive up to UAH 1 million for the installation of solar power systems and up to UAH 2 million for the installation of heat pumps.

The National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities has decided that new power generation facilities will be connected to the grid under a simplified procedure and without paying the connection fee.

We expect that in the next six months we will be able to significantly decentralise our energy system.

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We are also continuing our housing reconstruction programmes for our people.

Today, we are allocating an additional UAH 189.5 million to continue the restoration of apartment buildings in Kyiv region.

Last year, the Government allocated UAH 639 million for this purpose. Now it is important to complete all projects quickly and efficiently so that people can return to their homes.

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I am grateful to everyone who believes in our strong, peaceful European future and works every day to bring it closer.

Thank you for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!