Funding sources remain in question as EU mulls extra money for Ukraine – advisor

VILNIUS – EU member states agree on additional funds for Ukraine in the EU's revised long-term budget, but they disagree on the sources of such funds, Asta Skaisgiryte, an advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, says.

"On Ukraine, in principle, even the austerity-backing countries did not object to the need for additional money for the country. The only question that remains as to where that money will come from, from the redistribution of the existing funds or from new ones", Skaisgiryte told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

"I think that the European Council meeting in December will be very stormy in this respect and we will need to get well prepared," the presidential advisor said. 

The additional billions for Ukraine are the most divisive issue among EU member states in their debate on the 2021-2027 budget review as the EU's austerity wing are calling for the money to be provided by taking it away from other areas, rather than simply providing additional funding.

A decision on additional funds for Ukraine in the EU's revised budget will be made during the European Council meeting in December, Skaisgiryte said, adding that the Lithuanian president is in favor of creating a special EU fund for Ukraine.

The EC proposed revising the EU budget last summer and to create a new financial instrument to support Kyiv. Made up of grants and loans, this fund should amount to around 50 billion euros.

Further financial support for Ukraine is supported by almost all 27 EU countries, and only Hungary and Slovakia are against.