Spain and Ukraine strengthen their bilateral cooperation in economic, financial and digital matters

19/07/2023
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  • First Vice-President, Nadia Calviño, held a videoconference with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yuliya Svyrydenko, in which they addressed financial aid, bilateral cooperation and also the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU
  • The Vice-President expressed Spain’s support for Ukraine and the commitment of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to have a stable framework of financial support for the country in January 2024
  • The Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister thanked the important support of Spain in economic, financial and digital matters and urged Spanish companies to participate in the reconstruction of the country
  • The agreement signed today in Kiev between the National Cybersecurity Institute has been valued INCIBE and the Ukrainian counterpart SSSCIP for cooperation in cybersecurity, as a preliminary step to the construction of the common cyberthreat response system
  • In order to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and support for the reconstruction of the country, a delegation headed by the Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, visited Kiev
  • In addition, they have analyzed cooperation mechanisms for the reconstruction of railway infrastructures, together with Renfe, Adif and Ineco, as well as measures to favor the transport of grain, after the blockade in the Black Sea.
  • Spain’s financial aid has been valued through different European and multilateral programs. This aid has been reinforced by the signing last week of a guarantee agreement of up to EUR 70 million for the new programme of the European Investment Bank (EU for Ukraine)
  • It is also planned to create a CESCE coverage line for credit operations supplied to Ukraine for 30 million euros, which will constitute important support to the country and the Spanish companies operating there.
  • The vice-president informed Svyrydenko of the conclusions reached last Friday at the meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance in Brussels, who expressed their unanimous support to Ukraine
    • The First Vice-President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, met today by videoconference with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yuliya Svyrydenko.

    The First Vice-President and Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, met today by videoconference with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yuliya Svyrydenko.

    At the meeting, the First Vice-President expressed the commitment of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to have a stable framework of financial support for Ukraine in the context of the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework in January 2024.

    The vice-president informed Svyrydenko of the conclusions reached last Friday at the first meeting of the Spanish Presidency's Ministers of Economy and Finance (ECOFIN), in which the European Commission presented its proposal for a new financial instrument for Ukraine and in which the ministers unanimously expressed the need to support the country, in collaboration with international partners.

    Cybersecurity Cooperation

    Just today, Spain and Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the field of cyberdefense, as a preliminary step to the construction of the common system of response to cyberthreats.

    This is a memorandum of understanding sealed between the National Cybersecurity Institute of Spain INCIBEand the Ukrainian counterpart agency (SSSCIP), during an official visit of the Spanish delegation to Kiev.

    Inter-agency cooperation will focus on the exchange of information on cyber threats, as well as recommendations and good practices aimed at improving the respective incident management, incident response and cyber incident recovery systems.

    At the same time, special attention will be paid to the legislative aspects and to information and communication technologies of a strategic, technical and academic nature.

    In particular, the key areas of cooperation include: the contribution to the establishment of bilateral information exchange channels to identify and respond to threats in cyberspace; bilateral cooperation in cyberdefense and cybersecurity, as well as the exchange of technical cooperation on threats and vulnerabilities; the exchange of experiences and best practices related to cyberprotection through the realization of joint cyber lessons, training and simulations, implementation of joint programs with universities and R&D centers; development of regional cyber incident response centers; support to the design and implementation of national cybersecurity strategies of both countries.

    Spain's support to Ukraine

    Spain has a firm commitment to Ukraine in all areas. In financial terms, it has contributed to various funds within the framework of the European Union and multilateral institutions, including the European Peace Fund of the European Commission (EUR 320 million), the fund of the World Bank Group to maintain administrative capacity and basic services in Ukraine (EUR 47.9 million), the World Bank's HEAL programme for repairing health infrastructures in Ukraine (up to EUR 100 million) and the contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to help Ukrainian municipalities and protect food security (EUR 100 million).

    This aid has recently been strengthened by the signing, last week, of a guarantee agreement of up to EUR 70 million for the new programme of the European Investment Bank (EU for Ukraine​).

    In addition, the proposal to create a coverage line has recently been agreed CESCE for supplying credit operations in Ukraine amounting to EUR 30 million.

    In the humanitarian field, Spain has welcomed more than 180,000 refugees from Ukraine displaced under temporary protection, guaranteeing them free access to Spanish health and education systems.

    Presidency priorities

    During the meeting, the Vice-President explained the set of priorities of the Spanish Presidency in the economic and financial field.

    The Spanish Presidency will work to promote a set of fundamental dossiers to define the economic framework of the coming years with three fundamental areas of work: deepening the economic and monetary union and having a fiscal framework at European and national level that guarantees financial stability and allows to address the investments necessary for the double green and digital transition; promoting an ambitious European strategy to strengthen competitiveness and strengthen our strategic, technological and energy autonomy; strengthening the role of the European Union. EU as a global player, particularly enhancing the relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean.