DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 22 August 2025
EU delivers over €4 billion to Ukraine ahead of its Independence Day
Ahead of Ukraine's 34th anniversary of independence on 24 August, the EU delivers another strong signal of unwavering support by disbursing €4.05 billion to the country. This includes €3.05 billion via the Ukraine Facility and €1 billion through the European Commission's exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA).
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: “As Ukraine celebrates its 34th Independence Day, the EU sends a clear message: our solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today's disbursement of over €4 billion demonstrates our staunch commitment. This new funding underlines our commitment not only to Ukraine's recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. Because when Ukraine is strong, Europe is stronger too.”
Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the EU and its Member States have mobilised €168.9 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military assistance to Ukraine and its people.
The Commission disburses over €3 billion under the Ukraine Facility
Today, the Commission has disbursed a fourth regular payment of over €3.05 billion under the Ukraine Facility. This funding will enhance Ukraine's macro-financial stability, strengthen its public administration, and drive critical long-term reforms.
With this latest disbursement, the total EU support to Ukraine under the Facility has reached €22.7 billion since its start on March 1, 2024. This represents nearly 60% of the funds available under the Ukraine Plan.
Following the payment request submitted by Ukraine, on 8 August the Council endorsed the Commission's assessment that Ukraine has satisfactorily fulfilled 13 reform indicators tied to this fourth regular quarterly payment. Key reforms accomplished for this payment concern public administration, management of public assets, human capital, green transition, regulation of the digital and agri-food sectors, and management of critical raw materials.
This fourth regular payment under the Facility demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to implementing the ambitious reforms agreed in the Ukraine Plan. Ukraine is set to receive up to €50 billion in grants and loans for the period 2024-2027 under the Ukraine Facility.
The disbursement comes in the context of Ukraine's continued progress on EU accession reforms, including the restoration of the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office by the Verkhovna Rada on 31 July. Safeguarding the autonomy of these two institutions is a cornerstone of Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture and of its European path.
Ukraine receives a further €1 billion from EU's contribution to G7 loan
In addition, the European Commission has also disbursed the seventh tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, worth €1 billion. With this payment, the Commission's total lending to Ukraine under this MFA reaches €9 billion since the start of the year and comes on top of the assistance provided via other support instruments.
In total, the MFA amounts to €18.1 billion and represents the EU's contribution to the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative, which collectively aims to provide approximately €45 billion in financial support to Ukraine to cover its urgent needs. The ERA loans from G7 partners, as well as the EU's MFA loan, are being repaid with proceeds from immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, held by central securities depositories in the EU via the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism.
Background
Since the onset of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU, together with its Member States, has unequivocally condemned Russia's actions and has offered unprecedented support to Ukraine and its people. As the largest donor, the EU has mobilized €168.9 billion in total, including:
For More Information
Webpage on EU support for Ukraine
Webpage on the Ukraine Facility
Factsheet on EU solidarity with Ukraine
Quote(s)
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: “As Ukraine celebrates its 34th Independence Day, the EU sends a clear message: our solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today’s disbursement of over €4 billion demonstrates our staunch commitment. This new funding underlines our commitment not only to Ukraine’s recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. Because when Ukraine is strong, Europe is stronger too.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
The EU continues to stand with Ukraine. As we prepare to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, we are disbursing an additional €1 billion under the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative. By using immobilised Russian assets to provide this crucial support, we are ensuring that Russia pays for the destruction it is causing.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification
Ukraine has taken another important step in advancing the reform agenda defined in the Ukraine Plan, which is critical for its European path, recovery, and reconstruction. This payment brings total disbursements under the first pillar of the Ukraine Facility to over €22 billion in direct budget support, demonstrating the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression.
Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement
EU invests €116 million in 13 projects to restore ocean and waters
The European Union has announced a significant investment of €116 million in 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of the ocean and waters. The projects, selected under the EU Mission Ocean and Waters calls[LINK], will focus on a range of initiatives, including preserving offshore marine protected areas, protecting migratory fish habitats, reducing the environmental impact of fisheries and empowering local communities to lead the restoration of our ocean, seas and waters.
The 13 projects, which involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organisations, local authorities, schools, and businesses, will deliver a wide range of benefits to the ocean and waters in the EU and beyond.
The projects will be implemented across various sea basins, including the Black Sea, Danube River, Baltic and North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Some of the notable projects include SEAMPHONI, which will use advanced technology to monitor offshore marine biodiversity, and DanubeLifelines, which will restore pathways for fish in the Danube River. Other projects, such as ECO-CATCH and MarineGuardian, will develop new fishing technologies to reduce unwanted bycatch and protect marine habitats.
The investment is part of the Horizon Europe programme, which aims to bring solutions to some of society's greatest challenges. The projects were selected following a peer evaluation by independent experts, and more details on the selected projects, including budget and beneficiaries, are available on the EU Mission website. With this significant investment, the EU is taking a major step towards restoring the health of the ocean and waters – a key priority under the European Ocean Pact - and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
You can find more information online .
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Anna Wartberger – Tel: +32 2 28 20 54)
Statement by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner McGrath on the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes
To commemorate the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes tomorrow, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, and Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath issued the following statement:
“86 years ago, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, an alliance of blood between two of the most brutal regimes in history, leaving a deep scar on Europe. The oppression these totalitarian and authoritarian regimes inflicted, and the suffering endured by countless victims, remain vivid memories for many Europeans.
On 23 August, we honour their story. We celebrate the relentless pursuit of freedom and democracy by Europeans throughout history, who have resisted tyranny, demanded justice, and strove for a more just, equal, and free Europe. We owe it to them that, for the first time in history, every EU country is now home to a generation that has grown up free from the shadow of tyranny.
Yet, this struggle is not a distant memory. The seeds of hatred, intolerance, and oppression can still be sown, and our adversaries are eager to exploit them. Freedom, democracy, the Rule of Law and fundamental rights are hard-earned principles, but they can be eroded if they are not properly maintained and guarded. The European Union will always stand on the side of those that nurture the soil of human dignity, justice, and equality. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard these values.”
More information is available in our statement online.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79)