European Commission (EC) Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker said that the second tranche of 600 million euro of the macrofinancial assistance of the European Union (EU) could be provided to Ukraine in coming weeks, after the government files a bill regarding the moratorium on exports of timber to the Verkhovna Rada.
He said at a briefing after the meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in Brussels on Feb. 10 that Ukraine is conducting effective reforms and Ukrainians should have a chance to receive something in exchange to their success. Juncker said that he discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine with Groysman.
He said that the European Commission is pleased with the efforts the Ukrainian government is undertaking in drawing up the mechanism to annul the moratorium on exports of round timber and approve it by parliament.
Groysman said that the decision to provide 600 million euro of assistance is the substantial support of the EU in hard times for Ukraine.
