The European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Karl Nehammer has begun his first official visit to Ukraine in his current role overseeing the bank’s operations in the country. The four-day visit, taking place from 26 to 29 April, is focused on strengthening cooperation in recovery, energy security, infrastructure development, and Ukraine’s broader path toward European Union integration.
During the visit, Nehammer is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, and other senior government officials, along with international partners supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. Discussions will also include new agreements aimed at supporting energy decarbonisation and accelerating priority infrastructure investments under key initiatives such as “Ukraine FIRST.”
The programme includes visits across Kyiv, Lviv, and Volyn regions, where the EIB delegation will inspect multiple EU-backed projects. In Lviv, Nehammer will visit healthcare facilities including Saint Luke Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, and the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre, alongside urban transport projects supported by EIB financing.
In Hostomel near Kyiv, the EIB will inaugurate a rebuilt primary school funded under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, highlighting progress in restoring essential public infrastructure. In Kovel, the delegation will also open the first completed project under Ukraine’s Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings Programme, showcasing improvements in sustainable infrastructure and energy performance.
The visit also includes participation in commemorative events at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone marking the 40th anniversary of the nuclear disaster, alongside international delegations. Additionally, the EIB will advance cooperation with Ukraine’s energy sector, including work with Centrenergo on a decarbonisation roadmap.
The EIB has been a major public investor in Ukraine since 2007, focusing on infrastructure development. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the bank has significantly scaled up its support, providing more than €4 billion in financing for emergency needs and long-term reconstruction. The visit underscores the EIB’s continued commitment to supporting Ukraine’s recovery and development through targeted investments and international cooperation.
