UZ will receive funds from the EU for the development of western border crossings

The European Union is investing in the development of Ukraine’s railway infrastructure. Funds are provided through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) financial instrument for the development of border crossings with Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. This is stated in the message of Ukrainian Railways (UZ) press service.

As the chairman of the UZ board Evgen Lyashchenko noted, Ukraine is actively working on the integration of its railway infrastructure into the EU. The implementation of a number of such projects has been started, but at the moment, systematic support from international partners and financial institutions is needed.

«This is the first time in history that the EU irrevocably allocates funds for the implementation of railway projects in Ukraine. We will develop the most promising transitions with EU countries whose infrastructure needs modernization,» Lyashchenko noted.

In particular, the funds will be directed to the development of crossing points with Poland: Yagodyn – Dorogusk and Mostyska II – Medyka. Construction of the Chop – Cherna nad Tisya/Zachon crossing point, which connects Ukraine with Slovakia and Hungary, will also be carried out. Here, it is planned to build an intermodal terminal and adjacent infrastructure at the Chop station. In addition, the 1435 mm station tracks at Vadul-Siret and Hlyboka-Bukovynska stations will be reconstructed as part of joint projects with the Romanian side.

Director of the UZ strategy and transformation department Oleg Yakovenko explained that cooperation with CEF is a new tool for Ukraine and the railway. During the first participation in the competition for funding, Ukrainian Railways submitted an application together with neighboring countries, so the emphasis is on the development of western transitions with EU countries.

«The next submission of projects will take place in September 2023, and here we will identify and propose projects for investment to the EU. The plans include the development of TEN-T railway corridors with 1,435 mm Eurogauge for the development of cargo and passenger connections with the European Union,» Yakovenko said.

CEF is an EU fund created in 2014 for investments in transport, energy, digital and telecommunications projects. In particular, it is the main instrument for financing the development of TEN-T.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukrainian Railways will receive $25 million financing from the World Bank for the repair of critical infrastructure and increased freight transportation. In order to implement the grant, the UZ begins cooperation with the United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS, the corresponding agreement was signed in Kyiv in May.