Baku, 15 November 2024
Dear German, Ladies and Gentlemen, and fellow Ukraine supporters,
Let me start by recognising the extraordinary courage of the Ukrainian people. Next week we’ll be marking 1000 days of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. It’s a difficult anniversary to mark and a stark reminder of the huge loss and destruction brought on by this war.
In the energy sector, up to two thirds of Ukraine’s energy facilities was destroyed and over 9GW in power generation capacity were lost since March this year. I saw this first hand when I was in Kyiv in late September with President von der Leyen. But Ukrainians have never given up. You have kept going with resilience and determination. You remain steadfast in repairing, protecting, and building back better your energy system. And as your allies, and partners, we will be by your side every step of the way.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the short-term, the EU aims to meet the immediate needs of citizens while building a more resilient energy system in the long-term. Our approach is three-fold: repair, connect and stabilise.
First, repair: we are committed to restoring over 2 GW, 12% of Ukraine’s winter energy needs.
Second, connect: we’ve connected Ukraine to the European continental grid in record time, boosting Europe’s electricity export capacity by nearly 25%, from 1.7 GW to 2.1 GW. With additional emergency assistance, this means potential exports of up to 2.35 GW, covering another 14% of Ukraine’s winter needs.
And third, to help stabilise, we’re expanding decentralised energy production, focusing on renewables.
As you know, solar panels on rooftops are harder to hit and easier to repair than large-scale infrastructure. This not only ensures a more reliable energy supply but also advances Ukraine’s energy sovereignty and clean transition. For example, through the Energy Community Ukraine Support Fund, as a starting point, we’re equipping 21 hospitals with solar panels.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
These short-term goals align with a longer-term vision for Ukraine’s EU accession and its shift to a carbon-neutral economy. As we meet on the margins of COP29, I want to emphasise that climate and environmental sustainability are central to the plan Ukraine submitted to the EU last March.
The “build back better” principle is crucial for Ukraine’s sustainable recovery and modernisation. The plan includes energy, transport the environment commitments supporting COP objectives.
One of these commitments was Ukraine’s national energy and climate plan aiming to cut emissions by 65% from 1990 levels by 2030. This was adopted last June, despite the ongoing full-scale invasion by Russia.
Once again, I can only commend Ukraine for showing such determination amid all the war-related uncertainties.
Of course, realising these goals requires collective effort. The EU has allocated EUR 50 billion through the Ukraine Facility, with 12 billion already disbursed, focusing on recovery, reconstruction, and climate action. Other donors, including in particular fellow members of the Clean Energy Partnership are also helping reconstruction efforts.
Beyond this, private investment is key to Ukraine’s transition towards a green economy. International financial institutions and technical partners have a vital role to play in helping Ukraine to attract private investments.
We are also working closely with Ukraine on energy market reforms to ensure there is greater alignment with EU rules. We need to create the right conditions to spur private investments for Ukraine’s reconstruction and green transition.
Dear friends,
Ukraine and the EU have built a strong strategic partnership, now fuelled by the momentum of the accession process. I hope that in our discussions today we can identify more key actions to support Ukraine’s green transition. I look forward to hearing from our panellists and exploring ways to build a more sustainable, resilient, and energy-independent Ukraine.
Source – EU Commission