The European Commission (EC) will not allocate the last EUR 600 million tranche for Ukraine under the current Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme worth EUR 1.8 billion approved in 2015, but it is ready to consider the issue of further MFA provided reform momentum is stepped up.
"Four of the measures linked to the third and final tranche of this MFA currently remain outstanding. Against this background, the Commission is not in a position to disburse the last tranche of the current MFA programme," the European Commission said in a statement on December 1.
Ukraine has received two tranches worth EUR 1.2 billion under the current programme.
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"The Commission stands ready to assess the relevance of a successor MFA operation and, if judged warranted, to present a proposal for a new MFA operation in early 2018. An economic assessment, including of external financing needs, will have to be conducted and the details of this proposal would have to be worked out. Moreover, it will be important to ensure that the country's IMF programme remains on track. Any proposal would be subject to the approval of the European Parliament and of the Council of the EU, as per normal legislative practice," it said.
"We encourage Ukraine to maintain the reform momentum in the many areas that have progressed well, and complete the measures outstanding under the current programme, with the support of all stakeholders," the European Commission added.