BackInternational Transport Forum focuses on the restoration of Ukraine’s transport sector and Ukrainian Maritime Recovery Plan
Estonia Supports the Launch of a Ukraine Transport Support Fund
On 17 February, Estonian Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis participated in Stockholm at the fourth high-level meeting of the International Transport Forum (ITF), where discussions focused on the restoration of Ukraine’s transport sector. At the meeting, Estonia joined the declaration on the launch of a Ukraine Transport Support Fund and presented the Ukrainian Maritime Recovery Plan developed in cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine.
The purpose of launching the Ukraine Transport Support Fund is to provide flexible and targeted support for the restoration of Ukraine’s transport sector, complementing existing international financing mechanisms and enabling support also for small and medium-sized projects. The initiative to launch the fund was put forward by Ukraine, Canada, Lithuania and Sweden. In addition to Estonia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Norway joined the declaration.
At the meeting, Estonia emphasized that the new transport fund should also encompass the broader recovery of the maritime sector. “Ports and maritime routes have kept Ukraine’s agricultural and metallurgical exports functioning during the war, which is crucial for Ukraine and directly affects global food and energy security. Ensuring the continuation of trade through Ukrainian ports is therefore a shared responsibility of all countries,” said Estonian Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis.
Estonia and Ukraine have prepared a comprehensive Ukrainian Maritime Recovery Plan covering a significant part of the maritime sector. Full implementation of the plan would require nearly half a billion euros in international funding. “The plan includes, among other measures, the construction and modernization of work vessels, maintenance of maritime routes, development of port infrastructure, and the introduction of digital solutions. Broader inclusion of the maritime sector in the new support fund would enable flexible and targeted support also for the projects foreseen in the maritime recovery plan,” Leis added.
During the visit, Minister Leis met with Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, to discuss not only support for Ukraine but also the progress and financing of Rail Baltica. The Minister also met with Ukrainian Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach to receive an overview of the current state of Ukraine’s transport sector and to discuss opportunities for cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine, including maritime recovery as well as cooperation in road and rail transport.
The high-level meeting brought together ministers and transport leaders from Ukraine, the European Union and other countries — in total representatives from 20 countries — as well as representatives of international organizations.
