As it became known to the Polish Press Agency, Germany intends to actively block the payment of subsequent tranches of EU financial assistance to Ukraine.
In May, the European Commission offered Ukraine special financial assistance. We are talking about loans that Brussels had to provide the government in Kyiv. The total amount of macroeconomic assistance is 9 billion euros. The fact is that so far Ukraine has been allocated only one billion euros from this pool. According to the Polish Press Agency, Germany is behind the blockade of the remaining funds.
Germany blocks aid to Ukraine
According to PAP, citing EU diplomatic sources, Germany is suspending the payment of 8 out of 9 billion euros in loans that the European Commission was supposed to provide to Ukraine. The reason must be the doubts of the government in Berlin about financial guarantees for these benefits. The Germans refused to give an official comment on this matter.
The loans were not supposed to be funds from the EU budget, but money received by the European Commission on the market. Hence, probably, the doubts of the German side. Without the consent of Berlin, it will be impossible to take out a loan, since this requires the consent of all member states.
- Currently, Germany opposes the provision of such guarantees. The work is blocked. Berlin fears that Ukraine will not be able to return this money in the future and the European Union will have to do this - says an informant for the Polish Press Agency.
An additional billion in donations
The European Commission has also prepared aid that Ukraine will not have to return. This is a €1.59 billion package prepared by the European Investment Bank that will be used to prepare education, health, transport and energy for the future.
“We have allocated another 500 million euros of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. Another 500 million euros will appear in Ukraine tomorrow” - wrote on Twitter on August 1 the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “This billion euros will help Ukraine meet its most pressing financial needs and strengthen the country at a critical moment” she added.
Source: Wprost
