OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2014. During a meeting the Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Building and Housing and Communal Services Volodymyr Hroysman and head of Lending Operations for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia department of the European Investment Bank Marion Hoenicke touched upon urgent issues of cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the European Investment Bank.

Volodymyr Hroysman stressed that the Government of Ukraine carried out course economic and social reforms in a gradual and persistent manner which are aimed at improvement of live of Ukrainian citizens. Hence, Ukraine is interested in receiving additional financial resource provided by the EIB for the projects of modernization and development of energy sector, transport, municipal infrastructure etc. The Vice Prime Minister considers energy saving projects as of peculiar significance for the country as they are the questions called to ensure both saving money and security of the country.

The interlocutors also considered the need to enlarge access for the local self-government to the projects directed to the development of local infrastructure: “This is investing into life quality, therefore, it is a very important direction”.

Marion Hoenicke stressed these projects pose interest for the European Investment Bank. According to her, apart from the projects being realized by the EIB these days in Ukraine (6 projects worth EUR 1.142 billion, 3 projects – at the stage of preparation at the sum of EIB loans amounting EUR 319.2 million), the EIB intends to launch other development projects as well. “We have ambitious plans regarding enlargement of our portfolio of cooperation in order to introduce new initiatives,” she informed. 

Moreover, the parties tackled certain issues of realization of Beskyd tunnel construction project and other projects supported by the European Investment Bank in Ukraine.

As was reported, on May 19, 2014, there was signed the Guarantee Agreement between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank on loan worth EUR 55 million to direct to the construction of the Beskyd tunnel. This project is financed by the EIB jointly with the EBRD.