The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is providing Ukraine with €60 million in financing to modernise border crossing points along the country's western border, the EIB press service told Interfax-Ukraine.
"Ukraine's border crossings are gateways to the EU, connecting businesses, people and markets. Removing every bottleneck means faster cargo deliveries, stronger supply chains and greater opportunities for Ukrainian businesses. These investments are aimed at strengthening Ukraine's economic resilience and bringing it closer to the EU," said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer, announcing the signing of the loan agreement during his visit to Ukraine.
The EIB Group's funding will be used to upgrade terminals, buildings, including waiting areas, service and sanitary facilities, and canopies, as well as access roads. It will also finance the purchase of equipment and software for customs control at Ukraine's borders with the European Union and Moldova.
The project will increase border crossing capacity, reduce trade costs and facilitate the safe movement of goods and people between Ukraine, the EU and Moldova.
The EIB Group financing is being provided as a loan to the Ukrainian government through the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
"Modernising the infrastructure of our border crossing points is a priority. Thanks to financing from the EIB Group, we will increase capacity, reduce delays and strengthen key logistics routes connecting Ukraine with the EU and Moldova. These investments will contribute to our economic recovery and further integration into the European transport network," said Mykola Kalashnyk, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
The project is the first under the Security and Connectivity Initiative, launched by the EIB, the European Commission and the Ukrainian government. The initiative aims to accelerate Ukraine's strategic investments in transport, energy and digital infrastructure, ensuring reliable and efficient connections between Ukraine and the EU.
The loan announced today forms part of coordinated efforts under the Team Europe approach. The European Commission is providing a guarantee for the EIB Group's financing through the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF). The €60 million loan is also expected to be complemented by a €6 million EU investment grant and €2.5 million in EU technical assistance to support the project's implementation.
The planned modernisation of Ukraine's border crossing points will focus on roads forming part of the European Union's priority Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
The project will be implemented by the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
The EIB Group has been operating in Ukraine since 2007. Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, it significantly increased its financial support for the country's resilience and modernisation. Since then, the EIB has provided more than €4.5 billion in financing to support Ukraine.
Through the EU for Ukraine (EU4U) initiative, and by playing a key role in implementing a dedicated component of the Ukraine Facility, the EIB remains committed to expanding and accelerating its activities. These efforts are being carried out in accordance with the mandate established by EU leaders, in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, EU member states and international partners.
