LONDON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) concluded its three-day annual meeting on Thursday, with a focus on supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
At its 2025 Annual Meeting and Business Forum, held in London, the bank announced new financing initiatives totaling 70 million euros (78.5 million U.S. dollars) to facilitate public service and stimulate economic growth in Ukraine.
A key announcement was a new risk-sharing facility worth up to 60 million euros for ProCredit Bank Ukraine. The funding aims to strengthen energy security for Ukrainian businesses and households by supporting investments in energy generation, storage, and efficiency upgrades.
The EBRD also announced a 10 million euro emergency loan for the Ukrainian city of Lviv, intended to help maintain essential public services despite the challenges posed by the conflict.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EBRD has provided more than 7 billion euros of financing to Ukraine, supporting sectors including energy, infrastructure, trade, and private enterprises.
In light of the ongoing war and global trade challenges, the EBRD revised Ukraine's GDP growth forecast for 2025 down to 3.3 percent. Inflation is expected to remain high in the first half of the year.
The EBRD's annual meeting, held for the first time at its new headquarters in London's Canary Wharf, also addressed broader topics such as green energy transition, digital infrastructure development, and expansion into Africa.
Founded in 1991, the EBRD operates in over 30 economies across Europe, Central Asia, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, with the aim of promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollar) ■
