The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have announced an expanded support package to help Ukrainian businesses maintain access to financing during the ongoing war. The new initiative is designed to strengthen the resilience of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as larger companies facing significant economic challenges.
The package includes €200 million in guarantees, €105 million in grants and €10 million in technical assistance provided through the EU’s Ukraine Investment Framework. Together, these measures are expected to unlock up to €2 billion in new lending through the EBRD’s partner financial institutions across Ukraine.
The funding is projected to reach at least 3,000 MSMEs and support approximately 180,000 jobs, providing critical liquidity for businesses navigating wartime disruptions. The programme builds on the success of the first phase of the Financial Inclusion Recovery Programme, which demonstrated strong demand for financing support among Ukrainian enterprises.
A key focus of the initiative is helping businesses invest in modernization, equipment replacement and recovery projects. Investment incentives covering between 10 and 30 percent of eligible costs will support companies undertaking critical capital investments, particularly those involving high-performing and environmentally sustainable technologies.
At least half of the grant funding will be directed toward priority groups, including businesses affected by war-related damage, companies operating in conflict-affected regions, veteran-led enterprises, startups, small farmers, women-led businesses and youth-led companies.
The programme will also support the development of Ukraine’s insurance market, including pilot initiatives for war-risk insurance and insurance subsidies for MSMEs. Additionally, the Enterprise Security Enhancement mechanism will help businesses affected by war-related asset damage by enabling partial debt relief through participating financial institutions.
As Ukraine’s largest institutional investor, the EBRD has significantly expanded its support for the country since 2022, focusing on private-sector resilience, energy security and critical infrastructure. The latest package reinforces international efforts to sustain economic activity, preserve jobs and support Ukraine’s long-term recovery and reconstruction.
