The European Union is not a bank and does not distribute money just like that, and assistance to Ukraine is connected with its implementation of reforms.
This was stated by the Vice President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell at a press conference following the 22nd Ukraine-EU Summit in Brussels on Tuesday reports Interfax-Ukraine.
“The assistance that we provide to Ukraine is not without demands. We are not just a bank. We are not just an organization that distributes money just like that. We want to develop Ukraine as a prosperous and protected country. Indeed, our assistance is associated with reforms, in order to share the values that we share, “Borrell stressed.
At the same time, he noted that his words from an article on the results of a recent visit to Kiev that Ukraine should not perceive the EU as an ATM are “inadequate out of context”.
“Ukraine should not perceive the EU as an ATM”
Borrell added that when it comes to domestic transfers, the EU also makes demands on its own members to fulfill their obligations within the EU.
“I really want to note once again: the assistance that we provide to Ukraine is in our interests, and it is associated with reforms. This is our demand for Ukraine,” the European official stressed.
As a reminder, on September 22 the first visit to Ukraine of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell . Own he began a visit to Ukraine from a meeting with representatives of civil society and parliament. At the meeting, Borrell spoke about the importance of independent Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions and judicial reform.
Later, Borrel’s report on his visit to Ukraine was published. But the very next day, the EU decided to amend the material and removed the line from there, which said that Ukraine should not perceive the European Union as an ATM.
