President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer and Vice President of the EIB Teresa Czerwińska, who arrived for a visit to our country.
The head of state thanked the leadership of the EIB for visiting Ukraine and the decision to open the Regional Representation of the European Investment Bank in Eastern European countries, which will be located in Kyiv.
The Regional Representation of the EIB in the Ukrainian capital will play a crucial role in supporting efforts for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
"First and foremost, this is an important signal for our people that you believe in Ukraine and in the development of our state. It is also crucial for Ukrainian business," emphasized Volodymyr Zelensky.
The President highlighted the bank's decision, made in 2022, regarding the use of €1.7 billion from the EIB for the urgent needs of the state budget of Ukraine.
During the meeting, special attention was given to the acceleration of the implementation of existing investment projects, especially at the local and regional levels.
"We would like to see infrastructure projects for the recovery of our state prioritized. We want this work to have a greater impact," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
On his part, Werner Hoyer noted that the EIB delegation's visit to Ukraine is a testament to unwavering support, especially in the face of Russian aggression.
"From the very beginning of the Russian invasion, we have worked with the Ukrainian government to facilitate reconstruction projects, supporting the remarkable resilience of the country. With the opening of our EIB Regional Representation in Eastern European countries in Kyiv, we want to emphasize our enhanced commitment to accompanying Ukraine on its European path. Ukraine is an integral part of the European family, and the EIB is a key part of the long-term support from the EU," he said.
According to Werner Hoyer, the European Investment Bank continues close cooperation with Ukraine, involving a series of new initiatives for infrastructure restoration and support to the Ukrainian economy. Among these initiatives are two credit agreements totaling €450 million recently approved by the EIB Board of Directors. These initiatives will be financed through the EU for Ukraine fund, part of the EIB's EU4U program aimed at Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction programs. The fund is supported by contributions from EU member states and guarantees from the European Commission, amounting to a total of €500 million to date.
