Ukraine starts process of joining Council of Europe Development Bank

MOSCOW. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Ukraine is beginning the process of joining the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the press service of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development reported, citing Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov.

Ukraine has drafted a bill for this, the ministry said.

"Today we intend to officially send the bill to ministries and begin the process of official government approval in accordance with Ukrainian legislation," Chernyshov was reported as saying at negotiations with CEB head Carlo Monticelli.

Monticelli said he would do everything possible for the accession process to be transparent and simple for Ukraine.

Chernyshov briefed Monticelli on the process of internal government decision making within the context of the bill, as well as the results of a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment.

They also discussed the possibility and prospects for cooperation on implementing programs to solve the problem of housing for internally displaced persons, including cooperation with the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction.

The CEB, founded in 1956, currently includes more than 40 European countries. The bank provides low-interest loans to member countries to financial social projects.