The European Union allowed Ukraine to independently submit applications for financing infrastructure projects related to expansion of the main export routes (so-called Solidarity Routes, as reported by the Recovery Agency press service.
Previously Ukraine could receive funds from the EU for modernization of Solidarity Pathways only by means of participation in the project of one of the EU member states.
Adina-Ioana Vălean, the EU Transport Commissioner, explains, “For the first time, Ukraine will be able to apply for financing of infrastructure projects along the Solidarity Pathways without the need for EU partners. It can do this independently as an equal partner within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Ukraine can apply on the same grounds as any other EU member state”. She adds that such new opportunities also apply to Moldova.
Back in May 2022, the European Commission published a set of measures under the Solidarity Pathways initiative which include, inter alia, providibg to checkpoints equipment and other technical facilities and updating maps of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
In June 2023, Ukraine signed an agreement with the EU on participation in the CEF program, which allowed us to participate in competitions for transport infrastructure development jointly with partners – the EU member states with the EU financial support.
In the framework of the CEF program, the Recovery Agency is already participating in joint projects with Poland, Hungary and Romania – all of them aimed at improving capacity of crossing points with the EU member states.
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is the EU fund created in 2014 for infrastructure investments (in particular, Trans-European Networks TEN-T) across the EU in transport, energy, digital and telecommunication projects aimed to expand connections between the EU member states. It provides funds through grants, financial guarantees and project bonds.