European Policy Centre’s Post

🚨 HAPPENING NEXT WEEK | The reconstruction of Ukraine: Enhancing socio-economic and defence potential In this online Policy Dialogue, the panellists will take stock of the outcome of the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin on the 11-12 June. This event will bring public and private sectors from the EU and Ukraine together to shed light on the priorities and challenges of the Ukraine Plan for 2024-2027 under the EU's Ukraine Facility. It will also discuss the prospects for the reconstruction and gradual integration of Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base into the EU under the European Commission’s proposal for the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP). Some of the areas to be addressed will be the mobilisation of private investments, the launch of Ukraine’s Investment Framework and how businesses can receive financing. Pierre-Arnaud Proux Fabio Liberti Tymofiy Mylovanov Anna Derevyanko Chyzhykov Gennadiy Maryna Petrychenko Amanda Paul Maria Martisiute Register here 👇 https://buff.ly/4cAgxDN

🚨 HAPPENING NEXT WEEK | The reconstruction of Ukraine: Enhancing socio-economic and defence potential In this online Policy Dialogue, the panellists will take stock of the outcome of the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin on the 11-12 June. This event will bring public and private sectors from the EU and Ukraine together to shed light on the priorities and challenges of the Ukraine Plan for 2024-2027 under the EU's Ukraine Facility. It will also discuss the prospects for the reconstruction and gradual integration of Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base into the EU under the European Commission’s proposal for the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP). Some of the areas to be addressed will be the mobilisation of private investments, the launch of Ukraine’s Investment Framework and how businesses can receive financing. Pierre-Arnaud Proux Fabio Liberti Tymofiy Mylovanov Anna Derevyanko Chyzhykov Gennadiy Maryna Petrychenko Amanda Paul Maria Martisiute Register here 👇 https://buff.ly/4cAgxDN

A very insighful gathering with high-level officials and professionals united by a shared mission to support Ukraine's recovery. https://lnkd.in/d3FnTckd While the discussions were indeed focused, especially around reconstruction priorities, financing tools, and cross-border cooperation, it’s clear that more tangible actions are still needed to fully realize Ukraine's economic potential. The naval corridor and more True investments and partenrships, in particular, deserves even greater focus as a strategic enabler for trade and resilience. The networking aspect stood out for me—with several meaningful conversations that reinforced the importance of fostering even more partnerships. From my M&A view, investments in Ukraine can take different forms: 1️⃣ Asset based in Ukraine (infrastructure, real estate, etc.), Highest risk. 2️⃣ Businesses in Ukraine (creating value on the ground) 3️⃣ Ukrainian-owned businesses (helping them expand regionally or globally). A big thank you to the organizers and speakers for providing a platform to connect, learn, and act. Ukraine’s recovery is not just an opportunity—it’s a responsibility. Let’s ensure the momentum from events like this translates into impactful results.

At the Delphi Economic Forum panel discussing "USA and European Perspectives on Ukraine Reconstruction". Organized by RAND and Howard Shatz, I had the pleasure of participating in the discussion alongside the UK’s Minister of State (Minister for Europe) Nusrat Ghani, Ambassador Charles Ries, Ruth Harris, and André Härtel. A whopping US$486 billion is the current estimate for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs, to be carried out over several years (RDNA3). Even when considering just the subset relating to immediate needs, the sheer size of such a program and the realities on the ground, with limitations on time and resources, underscore a fundamental necessity: capacity building. With defense and immediate needs being the obvious critical priorities, it is key that the EU’s pledge for the €50 billion Ukraine Facility and its associated pillar of Technical Assistance find its way to the country. To this end, the private sector must also serve a broader vision and objective. To watch the entire panel: https://lnkd.in/dkym6tHA #Europe #Ukraine #HillInternational 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸

 Via The EU Commission: The Ukraine Facility The Ukraine Facility, the EU's flagship program dedicated to supporting Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernization in the wake of Russia's full-scale war of aggression. With a commitment of up to €50 billion between 2024 and 2027, this initiative will provide stable and predictable financial support to assist Ukraine on its journey towards EU membership. The Ukraine Facility is structured into three pillars: Pillar I: Direct financial support amounting to €33 billion in loans and €5.27 billion in grants, with a focus on public administration reform, public financial management, and the judicial system. Pillar II: Investment framework with €6.97 billion in grants to de-risk private and public investments, aiming to mobilize up to €40 billion. Pillar III: Accession assistance to support Ukraine's integration into the EU. Key milestones include: Disbursement of €7.9 billion in loans by mid-2024. A framework agreement signed on 22 May 2024 outlining management and reporting terms for the Ukraine Facility funds. A preliminary annual financing schedule to ensure timely support. This initiative underscores our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and prosperity, ensuring that at least 20% of investments support climate action and that sub-national authorities receive substantial support. Together, we are paving the way for a resilient and integrated future for Ukraine within the European community. 🌍🤝🇪🇺🇺🇦 #UkraineFacility #EUUkraine #Recovery #Reconstruction #Modernization #EU #Ukraine #Future

📢 The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has taken a significant step in supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine. In a unanimous resolution, #PACE has recommended the use of Russian state assets to bolster Ukraine’s recovery efforts. Let’s stand together in solidarity with Ukraine during these challenging times. Read the full resolution below or here: https://lnkd.in/eVShuFbk    💙🤝 #StandWithUkraine 

💥 #RussianDisinformationInV4 💬„Usually, the aim of the Russian media is to create the most negative image of EU and NATO members by very strong criticism of their policies, societies and political elites...” 🔎Read more: 🇬🇧 https://lnkd.in/gTAJutFc 🇵🇱 https://lnkd.in/giEc5upW 📌The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. #VisegradFund #V4

“We are not only supporting Ukraine’s sustainable and resilient recovery, we want to build back better.” - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz 🇩🇪🇺🇦 For more than 800 days, Ukraine has been defending our freedom too. Germany stands strongly on the side of Ukraine: against Russia’s war of aggression, in support of their society and the rebuilding of their country. Germany is proud to be the second largest donor to Ukraine. In order to achieve peace, Ukraine not only needs military support, but also a strong society and economy. Our shared goal is to mobilise continued international support for the recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernisation of Ukraine. It is against this backdrop that Ukraine and Germany are co-hosting the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) on the 11th–12th June 2024 in Berlin. Our motto for this year: “United in Defence. United in Recovery. Stronger Together.“ German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have reached out to more than 79 heads of state and governments together. Ultimately, the rebuilding of Ukraine can only succeed when citizens also have a seat at the table. At this year’s conference, businesses and representatives of civil society and communities will also be taking part. At least 1,500 participants will generate solutions in the focus areas of the conference: economy, humanity, local and regional, and EU reforms. 🔗 Learn more about #URC2024 and watch the livestream here: https://lnkd.in/eryfm_bH

Had the honour of speaking at the Lennart Meri Conference 2024 in Tallinn, a fantastic platform to discuss security and political challenges in our region, Europe, and globally. During my speech, interventions and interviews, I highlighted two key points that I believe are crucial to understanding the current state of affairs regarding the Russian war. Firstly, I highlighted Russia's change of tactics in targeting Ukraine's energy facilities from destroying transmission to destroying generation of electricity, heating, gas. If Ukraine's sky isn't closed asap with sufficient air defences (min 7 Patriot batteries and missiles), fighter jets, long range missiles to target Russian launchers, and the damaged facilities aren't rebuilt or substituted with alternatives, Europe may highly likely face millions of new war/frost refugees next year, further skyrocketing the costs on their support and decreasing funds available for military aid. Secondly, when it comes to funds, Europe actually has enough of them for Ukraine: it sits at ~200 B € of frozen Russian assets. I emphasized the importance of Russia paying for their aggression both for accountability but also for providing Ukraine with resources necessary to survive, defend itself and eventually win the war. The risks of confiscation bleak compared to the risks of letting Ukraine lose this war. Moreover, days before the Conference, Estonian Parliament adopted the law on confiscation of private assets of individuals linked to the Russian war. Let's see how it will be implemented and what would be the stance of courts, but that's anyways a big step forward too. Other important issues discussed at the Conference were developments in Georgia and the need of the West to better support its people in the fight for freedom, what could NATO summit celebrate and deliver to Ukraine, how to sustain the support in the war of attraction, "as long as it takes" vs "whatever it takes for the victory" and so on. Also, I liked very much all interventions of professor Snyder who made a straight-to-the-point comparison many in Europe would understand that Ukraine's resilience today is 1938 in case if Czechoslovakia would have decided to resist and allies to support it. That could have possibly well prevented WW2. But we know the choices made then and how Nazi Germany later used Czechoslovakian resources for their further invasions. As always, incredibly grateful to Estonia. They are real champions in supporting Ukraine.

💡 7 November | Next week, we will kick off our 21st #StateOfEU high-level roundtable, bringing together leading voices to reimagine Europe’s future. 🇺🇦 As part of our Ukraine Initiative, the third session on a 'European strategy for recovery and reconstruction' will address the pressing challenges facing Europe in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As military support and sanctions continue, we’re looking beyond immediate needs to develop a comprehensive plan for rebuilding Ukraine’s economy, infrastructure and governance. Drawing on our 10 Policy Choices for a #RenewedSocialContract for Europe, this session will explore how Europe can lead a strategic, values-driven reconstruction to strengthen Ukraine’s institutions, foster resilience and uphold human rights in the face of future challenges. We are thrilled to welcome esteemed discussants: 🔹 James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General at NATO 🔹 Pierre HEILBRONN, France’s Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction 🔹 Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Head of the Center for Civil Liberties and EYL40 European Young Leaders 🔹 Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice 🔹 Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Chair of The Clingendael Institute, Dutch Minister of State, former NATO secretary general, former Dutch foreign minister, and Trustee of Friends of Europe Join us at for a vital discussion on Europe’s strategic role in ensuring peace, resilience and stability for Ukraine and the broader region. Thank you to our partners for their support in making this event possible. ➡️ Stay tuned and find out more here: https://bit.ly/StateOfEU24 #DoNotNormaliseTheWar #UkraineInitiative #FutureOfEurope #EYL40