The Italian publication Corriere Della Sera published an article analyzing the issue of using international aid to rebuild Ukraine after the war. The material emphasizes that among European officials there are growing fears about the transparency of the distribution of funds, in particular due to the influence of big businessmen and oligarchs.
It says that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has decided not to give money to Ukrainian energy companies owned by oligarchs, even in the current emergency situation in Ukraine's energy sector.
In particular, the EBRD will not finance projects to restore DTEK power plants destroyed by shelling, as it is controlled by the country's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov.
"The goal of freeing the economy from the influence of oligarchs is absolutely fundamental, and we have very firm ideas on this matter: this is part of the reforms that must be carried out for Ukraine to join the European Union. If we were to compromise on this issue, we would harm the country's long-term prospects," EBRD head Odile Renaud-Basso told Corriere.
Despite the fact that millions of Ukrainians are currently suffering from low temperatures and power outages, Renault-Basso has no intention of providing loans or loan guarantees to DTEK.
The EBRD would like Akhmetov to relinquish control of the group.
"We need a structural change," Renault-Basso said.
