EIB Provides €55 Million to Rebuild Ukraine’s Schools, Hospitals, and Social Infrastructure Under Recovery Programme

EIB Provides €55 Million to Rebuild Ukraine’s Schools, Hospitals, and Social Infrastructure Under Recovery Programme

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) has allocated €55 million in EU-guaranteed funding under the Ukraine Recovery Programme to rebuild critical social infrastructure in 2025 and beyond. This funding, part of the €340 million framework loan backed by the EU, supports 151 sub-projects across various Ukrainian oblasts, including Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa. The programme aims to reconstruct schools, hospitals, housing, water systems, and more, helping communities recover from war-related damage. Recent projects completed in 2024 include a sewer pressure collector in Zhmerynka, benefiting over 33,000 residents, and other facilities such as a water supply system in Bucha and schools in Vinnytsia Oblast. This initiative, implemented with support from UNDP Ukraine and local authorities, demonstrates the EU’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s recovery. Key officials, including EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska and Ukrainian ministers, emphasized the importance of this partnership in fostering resilience and improving quality of life amidst the ongoing conflict.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 27-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB), the lending arm of the European Union, has disbursed €55 million, backed by an EU guarantee, to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts under the Ukraine Recovery Programme. This funding will drive the development of critical social infrastructure across 12 regions, including Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Mykolaiv, enabling the implementation of 151 sub-projects in 2025 and beyond. The programme aims to restore vital services, such as schools, hospitals, social housing, heating, water systems, and waste management facilities, essential for rebuilding war-affected communities.

This initiative is part of the broader Ukraine Solidarity Urgent Response package, developed by the EIB in collaboration with the European Commission. It underscores the European Union’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

Achievements in 2024 Highlight Progress

Several sub-projects were successfully completed in 2024, demonstrating the programme’s impact on local communities. These include a water supply facility in Bucha (Kyiv Oblast), two schools in Vinnytsia Oblast, and a paediatric infectious disease department in Zhytomyr Oblast. Most recently, a sewer pressure collector was finalized on December 25 in Zhmerynka (Vinnytsia Oblast). This €526,000 project rebuilt 2.64 km of pipeline using advanced technology, ensuring reliable wastewater transport for over 33,000 residents, including 4,000 displaced people. The upgraded system is designed to enhance sanitation and public health while protecting the environment for decades to come.

A Collaborative Effort for Long-Term Recovery

The Ukraine Recovery Programme is a €340 million framework loan bolstered by EU technical assistance grants. Managed by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the programme relies on local authorities and technical support from UNDP Ukraine to accelerate implementation and ensure transparency.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to Ukraine’s recovery:
“Through our partnership with the EU, we are committed to helping Ukraine rebuild essential infrastructure. This €55 million disbursement will enable the restoration of schools, hospitals, and utilities, strengthening communities and improving lives even amid significant challenges.”

European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis emphasized the EU’s steadfast support:
“Our commitment to Ukraine spans all dimensions—political, financial, military, and humanitarian. This funding for critical infrastructure is another step in our shared effort to rebuild and enhance resilience in Ukraine.”

Ukrainian officials echoed the importance of international support. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba highlighted how these funds are laying the groundwork for a resilient future:
“By restoring key infrastructure, we are improving the quality of life for millions of Ukrainians. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Ukraine.”

Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko added:
“This funding is pivotal in restoring our cities and improving well-being. The EU and EIB’s support is invaluable as we work toward recovery and resilience.”

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, stressed the role of collaboration in fostering sustainable recovery:
“Our partnership with the EIB ensures that we rebuild infrastructure to meet community needs effectively, creating a brighter future for all Ukrainians.”

As Ukraine continues its journey of recovery, the Ukraine Recovery Programme stands as a testament to the resilience of its people and the unwavering support of the European Union and its partners.

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of the Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. With Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships, alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices around the world.

 EIB recovery programme in Ukraine

The upgrade of the sewer pressure collector in Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia Oblast, was carried out under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, one of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) multi-sectoral recovery framework loans. Overall, the EIB is investing in three recovery programmes totalling €640 million, complemented by up to €15 million in EU grants. These programmes empower Ukrainian communities to restore social infrastructure and improve living conditions for their people and the internally displaced persons they host. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, jointly with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees the implementation of the programmes, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for fully managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to Ukrainian communities in implementing recovery sub-projects on the ground along with independent monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability.

Media contact:

Olga Sushytska
o.sushytska@ext.eib.org
+380 443908018
Press Office

press@eib.org
+352 43791

SOURCE: European Investment Bank