Brussels, 22 July 2022
Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland will receive an additional €125 million funds through REACT-EU under the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, to support people fleeing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The funds will support employment and the healthcare sector. In Estonia, €29.6 million will be invested in hospitals, energy efficiency in general care homes and buildings, and in the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19.
In Lithuania, €61 million will support stakeholders on the ground welcoming people fleeing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the recovery of the health sector after the pandemic, small and medium businesses (SMEs), renewable energy investments and employment measures. In Poland, the Łódzkie region will receive €14 million to support SMEs affected by the disruption of their business as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Funds will also support clean transport and pollution mitigation measures while in Wielkopolska, €1.8 million will offer people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine access to housing and care services. Finally, the polish region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie will receive €2.4 million to invest in renewable energy sources in public buildings and €1.8 million to strengthen measures mainly related to health and social infrastructure and social services, and to welcome refugees from Ukraine.
The 2021 tranche of REACT-EU had already allocated €40 billion to help Member States recovering from the pandemic, investing in digital and green transition and now hosting and integrating people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Commission has also paid €3.5 billion of pre-financing to Member States under REACT-EU since March 2022. The Commission recently presented the FAST-CARE proposal to ensure that pre-financing payments are increased by an additional €3.5 billion to be paid in 2022 and 2023.
Source – EU Commission