Immediate response
Since the Russian aggression started, the EU has mobilised around €4.1 billion to support Ukraine's overall economic, social and financial resilience in the form of macro-financial assistance, budget support, emergency assistance, crisis response and humanitarian aid. Military assistance measures have also been provided under the European Peace Facility, amounting to €1.5 billion, that will be used to reimburse Member States for their in-kind military support to Ukraine and the mobilisation of an additional €500 million is under way.
'Stand Up for Ukraine' global fundraising campaign
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At the 'Stand Up for Ukraine' global pledging event on 9 April, €9.1 billion was raised for people fleeing the Russian invasion, inside Ukraine and abroad, including €1 billion from the European Commission. On top of that, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced an additional €1 billion in loan to cover the needs of the people displaced by the invasion. |
Macro-financial assistance and budget support
The EU has stepped up its support for Ukraine’s overall economic and financial resilience, keeping the Ukrainian government functional and able to cover basic expenditures. Between March and May 2022, €1.2 billion in macro-financial assistance have been disbursed to Ukraine. The EU is also providing additional grant support of €120 million to help state and resilience building.
In addition, the Commission in May proposed granting Ukraine additional macro-financial assistance in the form of loans of up to €9 billion in 2022, to be complemented by support from other bilateral and multilateral international partners, including the G7.
Humanitarian aid
€243 million has been made available for humanitarian aid projects to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. This includes €230 million for Ukraine and €13 million for Moldova respectively, to provide assistance to people fleeing the aggression. This EU humanitarian aid provides food, water, healthcare, shelter and helps cover people's basic needs.
Also, €330 million goes to an emergency support programme that helps to secure access to basic goods and services, such as to education, healthcare and food. It also helps to protect the population, both internally displaced people and of their host communities and to support small and medium enterprises and agriculture. Another important goal is to reconstruct civilian small-scale infrastructure, ensure energy security, and strengthen cyber security, media freedom and actions against disinformation.
EU Civil Protection Mechanism
- 29countries have offered their assistance
- Over 30,000 tonnesof in-kind assistance has been shipped to Ukraine
Via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, we are channeling aid to Ukraine from 29 countries - 27 EU Member States, Norway and Turkey. This includes life-saving supplies such as medicine, food, and shelter items, but also strategic equipment like fire engines, power generators, ambulances and mobile hospitals.
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Moldova also activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to support people fleeing Ukraine to their country. 18 EU Member States, plus Norway, have offered various assistance to Moldova, including shelter, hygiene kits and power generators. The Commission has also coordinated civil protection assistance for Poland, Slovakia and Czechia to help Ukrainian refugees. Poland has received support from France, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Norway via the Mechanism, receiving shelter equipment and medical supplies. |
Emergency logistical hubs and rescEU aid
As needs have grown exponentially, further assistance has been sent to Ukraine via the rescEU medical stockpiles based in Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands. With a total financial value of over €14 million, the rescEU support includes ventilators, infusion pumps, patient monitors, masks and gowns, ultrasound devices and oxygen concentrators.
Furthermore, the Commission has established civil protection logistical hubs in Poland, Romania and Slovakia, to distribute required aid to Ukraine as quickly as possible. These hubs will help channel the assistance being delivered via the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU also continues to support neighbouring countries that have already received over 5 million displaced people from Ukraine.
Temporary protection mechanism
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On 4 March, the EU agreed to activate the Temporary Protection Directive to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Everyone fleeing the conflict must be granted access to the EU. Under this Directive, those eligible will be granted temporary protection in the EU, meaning that they will be able to stay in the EU for at least one year and will be given a residence permit, and access to education and to the labour market. |
Temporary protection means:
- residency rights
- access to the labour market subject to Member States’ labour market policies
- access to housing
- social welfare assistance
- medical or other assistance
- unaccompanied children and teenagers are entitled to legal guardianship and access to education
Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine
Other types of support
- In the energy sector, Ukraine’s electricity grid was synchronised to the EU. The EU will continue to support Ukraine in the energy sector, by ensuring the reverse flows of gas to the country. Ukraine will also be able to benefit from EU common purchase of gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.
- The Commission proposed to suspend for one year import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the EU. The proposal would also see the suspension for one year of all EU anti-dumping and safeguard measures in place on Ukrainian steel exports. This far-reaching step is designed to help boost Ukraine's exports to the EU and alleviate the difficult situation of Ukrainian producers and exporters.
- The Commission set out an action plan to establish ‘Solidarity Lanes' to ensure Ukraine can export grain, but also import the goods it needs, from humanitarian aid to animal feed and fertilisers.
Support for future reconstruction
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A major global financial effort will be required to rebuild Ukraine after the war damage. The reconstruction effort should be led by the Ukrainian authorities in close partnership with the EU and key partners, such as G7 and G20, and other third countries, as well as international financial institutions and international organisations. |
An international coordination platform, the ‘Ukraine reconstruction platform', co-led by the Commission and by the Ukrainian government, has also been announced. The platform would be responsible for endorsing a reconstruction plan, drawn up and implemented by Ukraine, with administrative capacity support and technical assistance by the EU. It would bring together the supporting partners and organisations, including EU Member States, other bilateral and multilateral partners and international financial institutions. The Ukrainian Parliament and the European Parliament would participate as observers.
To support the reconstruction plan, the Commission has proposed to set up the ‘RebuildUkraine' Facility as the main legal instrument for the EU's support, through a mix of grants and loans. It would be embedded in the EU budget, thereby ensuring the transparency, accountability and sound financial management of this initiative, with a clear link to investments and reforms.