European Parliament approves 18 bln euros of financial assistance for Kiev in 2023

BRUSSELS. Nov 24 (Interfax) - The European Parliament on Thursday approved 18 billion euros of macro-financial assistance for Ukraine in 2023, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Twitter.

"In record speed, European Parliament has just approved 18 billion euros for Ukraine [...] Our support to Ukraine only grows stronger," Metsola said following the vote.

The European Commission had previously announced a proposal to provide Ukraine with up to 18 billion euros in 2023 as part of the Macro-Financial Assistance Plus program, a new format of macro-financial support, in regular installments. The new macro-financial assistance program has not yet been approved and includes a number of terms, in particular, the adoption of measures to bolster governance and counter corruption.

Kiev is currently receiving support from Brussels under a program of macro-financial assistance totaling 9 billion euros, which was approved this summer. Of these funds, Ukraine has received 5.5 billion euros, and another 500 million euros are expected to be allocated in December. European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis has recently noted that the final 3 billion euros of the program's funds will be included in the proposed package of loan assistance to Ukraine totaling 18 billion euros for next year.