Ukraine: A nation at struggle, but firmly on the trail to EU membership (half 2) | EUROtoday

Issued on: 23/02/2024 – 10:52

In December, Ukraine acquired an important sign from the EU, when the 27 member states agreed to begin accession talks with Kyiv. And in February, a compromise was reached with Hungary to unblock a €50 billion monetary assist package deal for Ukraine. Throughout the struggle, and even earlier than, the EU has been an important accomplice, offering no less than €85 billion in support to Ukraine.

In half two of this particular programme, we journey to the northern suburbs of Kyiv that had been hit particularly onerous within the first weeks of Russia’s onslaught – Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin. We have a look at concrete examples of reconstruction and EU support to small and medium-sized companies, such because the Dim bakery in Bucha, which not too long ago gained a grant from the EU and is managed by refugees from jap Ukraine. We focus on the significance of such initiatives with senior representatives from the EU delegation in Ukraine, Iryna Hubarets and Alberto Fernandez-Diez.

We additionally go to the city of Borodyanka, which was devastated in February-March 2022, with round 1,500 buildings broken. In the brand new administrative providers centre, financed by the UN and the EU, we meet Liudmyla Buimister, an unbiased MP within the Ukrainian parliament. We focus on rebuilding plans, EU-aligned reforms of native authorities and her hopes for Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts.

In our movement design section, Sophie Samaille appears on the ripples of the Ukraine struggle within the EU, notably the cost-of-living disaster, and the way EU funds – together with cohesion – are getting used to counter inflation.

Our reporter Luke Brown examines how EU cohesion funding is supporting Ukrainians in Poland, and takes a have a look at how fears of “social dumping” – or cheaper Ukrainian labour prices – are being felt within the important street haulage sector; fears which led to a months-long blockade of the 2 nations’ street border.

Show offered by Armen Georgianproduced by Johan Bodin, filmed on location by Johan Bodin and Stéphane Bodenne, with Luke Brown. Editor-in-chief: Caroline de Camaret.

_{Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are nevertheless these of the creator(s) solely and don’t essentially replicate these of the European Union or the DG Regional and Urban Policy. Neither the European Union nor the DG Regional and Urban Policy could be held chargeable for them.}