Zelensky, EU warn new parliament blockage has put 3.7 billion euros for Ukraine at risk
The parliament's blocking of reforms is "against the state — against the Ukrainian state," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The European Commission has warned on September 2 that a failure by Ukraine's parliament to pass a crucial law could jeopardize a significant 3.7 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in EU support. The parliament was expected to approve new legislation on September 1, specifically aimed at eliminating tax exemptions on small packages, but fell short by 30 votes of the required majority.
European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari stated that the law is of utmost importance as it plays a vital role in mobilizing revenue for the Ukrainian budget. Ujvari emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to continue these reforms to ensure the planned disbursements under the Macro-Financial Assistance program. President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously criticized lawmakers for their failure to advance several reforms on September 1, calling them necessary despite their difficulty, unpleasantness, or unpopularity.
Zelensky also criticized the parliament for blocking EU integration rules, accusing them of being dishonest and against the Ukrainian state. The parliament will consider additional bills on September 2 and 3, many of which are required by the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Ukraine to unlock further financial support. Zelensky set a target of Nov. 1 to implement 44 such reforms.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
