The EU increases its humanitarian assistance and recovery aid to Ukraine

by Ana Maria Sarmento

The European Union (EU) is providing an additional €32millions to help Ukrainian citizens to survive the ongoing war in Eastern Ukraine, between pro-Russians separatists and the Ukrainian army.

With the approaching of the winter, Ukrainian population struggles to survive in the conflict and basic needs for provision of shelter, food and non-food assistance, health services and protection will be provided by the EU. According to Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, “The EU is ready to increase its support for the population affected by the conflict as part of its overall support for Ukraine.” The EU will also provide assistance to small-scale community development projects, such as medical facilities and schools. Moreover, the EU will continue to promote recovery and integration needs to IDP's (internally displaced persons), as well as communities who have been severely affected by this conflict, such as the Tatar. 

During the European Parliament (EP) committee hearing that took place in November 2014, Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, mentioned Ukraine's gratitude on the EU assistance. In the hearing, Klimkin frankly stated that Ukraine has a very narrow, but clear, opportunity with the EU. The Minister of Foreign Affairs demonstrated Ukrainian's full commitment in three main areas. Firstly, implementing and activating anti-corruption systems, namely the court system, in order to fight corruption. Secondly, decentralizing the power into a new system where people will find more freedom and responsibility, as well. The aim of these two objectives is to gain the much needed population's trust at a political level in order to restore institutional trust and confidence and to achieve civil security. Thirdly, Ukraine is also committed to install security and law on the Ukrainian borders. These ambitious commitments from the government of Ukraine towards its people are its main priorities. 

The government believes that by achieving these reforms it can diminish the loss of confidence on the ground by many Ukrainians. Nevertheless, he stated that Ukraine needs the continuous support from the EU to achieve successfully these policies. As well as to keep the political message to Russia in order to lower the ongoing escalating conflict. In the current situation, thousands of Ukrainian citizens are living in total lack of human rights conditions and are continuously facing severe harassments by mercenaries who are crossing the boarders into Ukraine. In addition, Ukrainian political prisoners in Russian are suffering decadent treatment. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demonstrated his trust on the EU cooperation to assist and help Ukrainian people in such a harsh moment. The EU and the government of Ukraine will face arduous challenges in the coming times. Providing an humanitarian corridor to access the most needed population, as well as sending EU expert teams to Donetsk and Luhansk regions will only be possible through negotiations with the self-elected local authorities in the region. Even though both the EU and the current Ukrainian government do not recognize the legitimacy of these local authorities, extreme measures are needed immediately to help the most vulnerable population. Ukraine is living one of the most turbulent moments of its recent history and, more than ever, the EU support is needed to regain the country' stability and civil security.