Ukraine, EIB agree to cooperate to improve water supply systems

The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have agreed to cooperate to improve water supply systems in Ukraine.

This was discussed during a meeting between Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov and Head of the EIB Resident Representation for Ukraine Jean-Erik de Zagon, the Government portal reported.

In Ukraine, only 30% of rural settlements are provided with centralized drinking water supply. Imported drinking water is still used in nine regions of Ukraine; therefore, the issue of repair and reconstruction of water supply networks requires an immediate solution.

“The experience and resources of partners from the European Investment Bank will be extremely useful for solving such a problem. At the initial stage, the ministry will act as a communicator between local authorities and the Bank and will actually create a platform for further work, which, as a result, will initiate a solution to the problem with drinking water supply,” Chernyshov said.

Together with the EIB, the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development is implementing three projects worth EUR 615.5 million. They are aimed at restoring municipal and social infrastructure, in particular those that was damaged as a result of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers supported Ukraine's application for the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) from November 2021 to November 2022.

ish