Belgian support for Ukraine

UPDATE - Belgium resolutely supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The Belgian Ukraine fund, which stands at 1.7 billion euros for 2024, is intended for the purchase of military equipment and humanitarian aid and to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine's hardest-hit regions.

THE BELGIAN UKRAINE FUND: CIVIL SUPPORT

The Belgian development agency Enabel is currently preparing the BE-RELIEVE programme. This reconstruction programme of 150 million euros will be implemented over the next four years with a focus on the regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, with the aim of contributing towards the long-term rebuilding and recovery of Ukraine, and with a view to Ukraine joining the European Union. This programme will focus on education, health, infrastructure, energy efficiency and green energy.

The Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, BIO, will invest 10 million euros in Ukraine, thereby supporting the resilience of the local economy. 15 million euros are earmarked for humanitarian aid (7 million euros for the Country Based Pooled Fund managed by OCHA and 8 million euros for activities of ICRC). 10 million euros have been allocated as a contribution to the SPUR facility (Special Program for Ukraine's Recovery and Crisis Response) of the World Bank. Another 10 million euros is allocated to the Economic Resilience Action Program of the World Bank in support of Ukraine’s private sector.

On 26 April 2024, the Council of Ministers agreed decided to allocate 700,000 euros for the International Criminal Court, 9 million euros for critical energy infrastructure (via UNDP), and 6 million euros for a medical revalidation project. On 17 May 2024, another package was approved: 2 million euros for humanitarian demining (through UNDP and FAO) and 1 million euros for the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict

A Ukraine Special Envoy for Belgium was also recently appointed. In view of its financial support to Ukraine, Belgium has also received the status of annual observer in the Steering Committee of the Multi-Agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine since April 2024.

THE BELGIAN UKRAINE FUND: MILITARY SUPPORT

With regard to military support, Belgium is responding as closely as possible to the situation on the ground. The country is currently a member of six capability coalitions as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein group). As a member of the F16 coalition for Ukraine, Belgium is contributing towards the training of pilots and technicians and the maintenance of aircraft. Belgium is also a member of the maritime coalition and in this capacity will donate a mine countermeasures vessel to Ukraine, among other measures. It is also active in the coalitions on demining, IT, munitions and air defence.

On 15 March 2024, Belgium announced three new military support packages, with a total value of 412 million euros. This encompasses the procurement of armoured ambulances by the Benelux. Belgium is also contributing 200 million euros to the initiative of the Czech Republic for the procurement of munitions for Ukraine, as well as supplying munitions from Ministry of Defence stock.

On 29 March, the Council of Ministers approved the 25th Belgian military aid package for Ukraine, of which 100 million euros will be allocated to the maintenance and support of Belgian F16s destined for Ukraine.

The decision of the Council of Ministers of 26 April 2024 to redistribute the Ukraine fund resulted in a new package of 204.3 million euros of military support. It concerns, among other things, participation in the German initiative Immediate Action on Air Defence, missile defence system and munition from its own stock for air support. The government also decided to make every effort to already transfer some of Belgium's F16s to Ukraine this year.

EARLIER  SUPPORT TO UKRAINE

Other support already provided to Ukraine can be summarised as follows (figures below do not include spending from the Ukraine fund):

HUMANITARIAN AID: 109.7 million euros

By providing humanitarian aid, Belgium is helping to ensure that even in these extremely difficult circumstances, the civilian population of Ukraine has access to basic services such as food, clean drinking water, medical care and education. Aid is provided directly but also via multilateral agencies. The following interventions, among others, have already taken place:

• The dispatch of emergency goods via B-FAST since day one
• Aid provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), for purposes such as providing medical assistance, funding family reunification and raising awareness of the risks posed by unexploded explosives (€8 million).
• Aid provided via UN agencies (UNICEF, OCHA, UNHCR, IOM, WFP, UNFPA, etc.) (€63 million)

Belgium is also paying close attention to the impact of Russian aggression on the South. Part of the humanitarian aid aims to address the global impact of the war on food security, among other things. In this regard, Belgium contributed 10 million euros to the Ukrainian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative. The aim of that initiative is to ensure the supply of Ukrainian grain to countries vulnerable to food insecurity. A further 10 million euros has also been pledged for 2024.

RESILIENCE AND REBUILDING: 30.9 million euros

Belgium is supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Not only is this helping to increase Ukraine's resilience and war effort, but Ukraine's future integration into the EU as well. Attention is also being paid to the human and psychosocial aspects of recovery and reconstruction. Belgium is achieving this by means of the following actions, among others:

• International Organization for Migration: the rehabilitation of hospitals (€10 million)
• Delivery of solar panels
• Rebuilding of schools, hospitals for mental rehabilitation of veterans
• Programmes to preserve cultural heritage
• Support provided to the International Labour Organization (€1.5 million)
• European Investment Bank (6 million euros) and the World Bank (€2 million)

The Belgian export credit agency Credendo is restarting cover for export transactions with Ukraine on behalf of the Belgian state, with 100 million euros earmarked for this.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND EFFORTS TO COMBAT IMPUNITY: 7.3 million euros

Belgium attaches great importance to combating impunity and is making every effort to ensure that war crimes do not go unpunished. This includes devoting specific attention to the position of women and children. This is done in part through the following efforts:

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe: monitoring (€0.8 million)
• International Criminal Court (€1 million)
• Combating sexual violence and supporting women's rights through various UN agencies and funds and the Global Survivors Fund (€3.5 million)
• UN Children's Fund (UNICEF): defending the rights of children in armed conflict (€500,000)

MILITARY SUPPORT: 351.01 million euros

Since the very beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Belgian Ministry of Defence has done everything possible to support Ukrainian forces.

• Lethal support: weapons and ammunition
• Non-lethal support: generators, mobile laboratories, fuel, helmets, binoculars, lorry parts and training, etc.

Support has also been provided for mine clearance. Belgian military personnel are training Ukrainian military personnel in a variety of fields both in Belgium and in other countries.

Belgium has also strengthened its diplomatic network in the region (2.76 million euros).