Ukraine, France sign 200 mln euro grant agreement

MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax) - Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko and French Ambassador in Kiev Gael Veyssiere have signed a grant agreement, which totals 200 million euros and is intended to facilitate recovery efforts and support critical infrastructure and priority sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

"This is 200 million euros in grants that companies in France and Ukraine and local authorities may use to support critical infrastructure and mining operations in Ukraine. The intergovernmental agreement was signed on June 7. We are signing a financing agreement today," Veyssiere said during the signing ceremony in Kiev on Monday.

Projects eligible for financing under the agreement are now being considered by the Ukrainian side, and decisions are being made, after which they will be approved by France, he said. The funds will become available shortly after that.

These projects may start to be implemented this year, in several weeks' time, the ambassador said.

"A large number of projects worth more than 700 million euros have been presented. But we have only 200 million euros available. It means that French companies stand ready to be active here, to interact with Ukraine," Veyssiere said.

Sviridenko, for her part, said that projects to receive funding under the signed agreement will deal with public health protection and support for critical infrastructure, water supply and the energy sector.

"Under the parties' agreement, and bearing in mind all challenges facing the energy sector, we'd like at least 60 million euros of this amount to be spent on supporting power generation and the implementation of water supply projects," she said.