Ukraine risks losing access to European Funds — Shuliak
Access to financing from EU structures such as the EBRD and IFC will become more difficult if Ukraine does not meet the standards of the “green” transition, said Olena Shuliak, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Organization and leader of the Servant of the People party.
According to her, Europe is currently undergoing two key transitions — digital and green. Ukraine is already demonstrating progress in digitalization, but there are significant gaps in the green agenda.
Without compliance with environmental standards, including ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance), businesses and communities will be unable to access funding for reconstruction and development projects.
“Without implementing the green course, we will not be able to gain access to European structural funds — and these are billions of euros for companies, communities, and the state that implement projects under the European green agenda,” Shuliak emphasized.
She stressed that even if Ukraine meets the requirements of the IMF and the Ukraine Facility, it will be extremely difficult to rebuild the country without access to external markets and financing from international institutions. At the same time, compliance with “green” standards allows borrowers to obtain loans at lower interest rates.
Shuliak also noted that modernizing production and transitioning to environmentally friendly technologies are critically important for developing local businesses, and Ukraine needs clear algorithms and legal norms for processing construction and other waste generated by the war.
