EIB and E5P support Ukrainian hospitals through war-related emergency measures

• A €5 million investment grant from the E5P multi-donor fund will finance war-related emergency measures, especially in Ukrainian hospitals.
• This grant supplements an ongoing €300 million energy efficiency loan from the EIB.
• 43 Ukrainian communities are already participating in the programme, with more to follow.
• Novoyavorivsk and Kovel are among the first cities to receive funding for energy efficiency upgrades.

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union, and the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine have concluded a new agreement to further facilitate the implementation of the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme and contribute to much-needed energy efficiency and war-related emergency efforts, in particular within the healthcare sector. The cooperation agreement provides for a €5 million investment grant from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P), on top of a €300 million EIB loan. 

The €5 million grant will mainly support war-related emergency measures in Ukrainian hospitals. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the urgency to renovate and upgrade hospital and healthcare infrastructure has increased dramatically, highlighting the critical need for improved facilities to ensure adequate medical care and support for affected communities.

The €5 million from the E5P multi-donor fund, to which the EU is one of the largest contributors, brings its total grant contribution to €9 million, supplementing the EIB’s Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme. The €300 million EIB framework loan, €200 million of which was redirected to provide urgent support to Ukraine in 2022, is designed to finance thermal renovations, war damage repairs, and the conversion of public buildings across Ukraine. Currently, 43 Ukrainian communities are involved in the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme, with Novoyavorivsk and Kovel being among the first to receive funding for energy efficiency upgrades.

Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov said: “We are committed to the principle of 'building back better’ and are focused on using energy-efficient technologies in reconstruction. This aligns with our European aspirations, and we are grateful to our partners for their support, especially in modernising the healthcare sector. Increasing the grant component within the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme will reduce the financial burden on communities, which is a pressing issue and a significant contribution to supporting community development during the ongoing escalation of military aggression by Russia.”

Head of the EIB Regional Hub for Eastern Europe Jean-Erik de Zagon said: “The reconstruction in Ukraine offers a good chance to focus on energy efficiency, a key factor in boosting the country’s resilience and sustainability. With the support of the committed donors from the E5P fund and through our Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme, the EIB is dedicated to helping Ukraine rebuild and improve the energy efficiency of public buildings, particularly hospitals, to ensure that they meet all standards of protection and sustainability during wartime and beyond.”

The EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said: “The European Union is proud to be among the main founders of the E5P Fund. EU-funded initiatives are assisting Ukraine in its reconstruction, emphasising emergency measures and energy efficiency. With the EU Neighborhood Investment Platform (NIP) grant of €5 million and the E5P grant, now amounting to €9 million after today’s top-up, the European Union and its financial arm, the European Investment Bank, are moving forward in implementing the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme. I am glad as well that, as part of the NIP support, very small cities – below 50.000 inhabitants – are now receiving detailed technical designs documentation for free to enable them to join the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency programme and achieve long awaited repair and upgrade of infrastructure”.

Jürgen Keinhorst, director at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, said: “Germany has been supporting E5P since 2014, and contributed €20 million in 2022 to the E5P fund in Ukraine for war-related emergency response measures, which remain a priority for us. We are grateful to be able to help with urgent assistance for Ukraine via the fund and greatly appreciate the engagement and commitment from all the E5P partners. It’s very encouraging to see that via E5P we can support municipalities in addressing the enormous challenges they face, especially in the social sector, for instance hospitals.”