Chancellor of the Government meets France’s Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction
As part of her working visit to France, Chancellor of the Government, Giedrė Balčytytė met with Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic, Pierre Heilbronn, to discuss support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and Euro-integration.
‘The reconstruction of Ukraine will require a large-scale coordinated collective effort, and we are already well placed to do much to ensure that many Ukrainian civilians can once again have access to essential infrastructure and services. A stable, restored, and thriving Ukraine will serve as the best testimony to Russia’s impotence in its destructive pursuits, and as a prerequisite for lasting peace in Europe’, said Giedrė Balčytytė.
Ukraine’s reconstruction is closely linked to the country’s quest for the EU membership and the implementation of the necessary reforms. Ukraine, which is pursuing its Euro-integration agenda despite the war, deserves all the necessary technical and expert support, the Chancellor added.
The parties also discussed the role of the EU in contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, and the importance of this role in coordinating Member States’ assistance, ensuring the smoothness and speed of the process and the effective sharing of responsibilities.
Lithuania, having already been engaged in the reconstruction efforts of Ukraine in the previous year, possesses the necessary experience and expertise to carry out reconstruction projects and provide assistance. This enables Lithuania to actively participate in future multilateral reconstruction initiatives under the auspices of the European Union.
The Central Project Management Agency (CPMA) is currently working on several projects: the Lithuania-funded reconstruction of a school in Borodyanka and a kindergarten in Irpin, the rehabilitation and modernisation of the local electricity supply system in Mykolayiv; a mobile settlement was completed in April and handed over to war-displaced people in Borodyanka.
Lithuanian experts are also working directly with the Ukrainian Reconstruction Agency. As highlighted by the Chancellor of the Government, special attention should be given to building the competences of Ukrainian institutions and providing expert assistance.
Giedrė Balčytytė emphasized that the involvement of the private sector in the long-term and resource-intensive reconstruction of Ukraine is important. She also pointed out the need for incentives and clear conditions to facilitate active participation by businesses in this process.