State Service for transport security (“Ukrtransbezopasnost”) December 12, 2022 will begin the full launch of the electronic queue “єCherga” at the checkpoint “Yagodin – Dorohusk”.
As noted in a message in the telegram channel “Ukrtranssbezopasnost” on Tuesday, testing of the electronic queue at the border crossing “Yagodin – Dorohusk” has been successfully completed, also all comments from carriers have been taken into account.
According to the department, from December 12, the passage of cars at “Yagodin” will be exclusively by appointment in the electronic queue.
Also on December 12, inspectors of “Ukrtranssbeksosti” will help drivers who stand in “live” queue in front of the checkpoint “Yagodin – Dorogusk” to register on the site of electronic queue.
The “Become in Queue” button on the website will be activated after the last car from the live queue is entered into the digital queue.
All applications submitted during the test period of the site will be canceled.
The e-queue project is implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the State Transport Security Service, Ukravtodor, and the State Customs and Border Guard Service of Ukraine with the support of the USAID / UK Aid Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services/TAPAS project.
The European Commission (EC) approved on Tuesday the Horizon Europe work program for 2023-2024 to allocate about 13.5 billion euros to support researchers and innovators in Europe.
It is about finding “breakthrough solutions to environmental, energy, digital and geopolitical problems.”
“As part of the broader €95.5 billion EU Horizon Europe research and innovation program, funding for 2023-2024 will support the EU in achieving its climate goals, building resilience and developing basic digital technologies,” the European Commission said in a communiqué published in Brussels.
The document said it would also “consider targeted actions to support Ukraine, build economic resilience and promote sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Brussels explained that the targeted assistance to Ukraine is in addition to the 70 million euros earmarked for special measures already initiated in 2022. The additional support foresees the enhancement of access of Ukrainian scientists to European research infrastructures, continuation of the assistance to Ukrainian medical scientists, assistance in the struggle against climate change and assistance in reconstruction of several Ukrainian cities with the participation of the EU mission on climate-neutral and “smart” cities.
The EC communiqué also notes that over 42% of the 2023-2024 work program budget, or €5.67 billion, is earmarked for climate change and digital transformation projects. Some 970 million euros will be invested “to accelerate the transition to clean energy in line with the European REPowerEU plan and increase Europe’s energy independence.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is negotiating with municipalities in the de-occupied territories and is ready to support them, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“Supporting municipalities is one of the key priorities of the bank’s support in Ukraine. We recently signed a technical cooperation agreement with the city of Mariupol to conduct a loss and needs assessment, which will form the basis of preparations for the reconstruction of the city. We are negotiating with other municipalities, including recently de-occupied territories, and are ready to support them,” she said.
So far, the EBRD is working with a total of 19 municipalities across the country.
“Right now our focus is liquidity financing, but where possible we also continue to support priority investments,” Reno-Basso reported.
The full text of EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso’s interview with Interfax-Ukraine will be published on the website.
On December 5, USAID launched the USAID/ENGAGE Note project, under which educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and self-employed individuals in Ukraine will receive 5000 modern laptops with licensed software.
ABOUT THE PROJECT.
The national project “SOPHIA Note” is the result of joint efforts of international donors, business, Ukrainian volunteers and government. The project is being implemented within the framework of the USAID Youth Program “Dreaming and Acting”, implemented by IREX in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Ukrainian volunteer platform “SpilDiya”, as well as HP Inc. and Microsoft, which provided laptops and licensed software.
Applications for the first wave of the project started on December 5 and will last until December 15. The initiative is being implemented throughout Ukraine, except for the temporarily occupied territories.
The project aims to support Ukrainian youth in access to education, response services and self-realization during the war. The distribution of laptops will take place in close cooperation with educational institutions, organizations and foundations working with and for young people and engaged in important educational and social tasks for communities, helping vulnerable groups. The devices will also be provided to self-employed Ukrainians who really need them.
The main goal is to give Ukrainian youth the tools to solve problems at the local, regional and national levels, to promote youth initiatives.
WHO CAN APPLY AND HOW TO GET THE LAPTOP(S)?
The application can be submitted by:
– schools seeking to provide children who do not have equipment for learning;
– public organizations / charitable foundations / other educational and creative non-profit organizations and initiatives
– self-employed persons.
To participate in the first wave of the competition, you must submit an application by December 15 (inclusive). All details on the necessary steps and criteria can be found on the website of the volunteer association “SpivDia” spivdiia.org.ua/notebook
Applications will be processed from the first day of the project and will be checked by case managers of “SpivDia Note” as they are received. Priority will be given to applicants (including self-employed persons) who really need the laptop(s) to provide access to training, improve or create opportunities to provide response services for children and youth, as well as for the professional realization of young Ukrainians.
QUOTE.
Iryna Tuliakova, Founder and Executive Director of the “SpilDiya” Foundation.
“Since the first days of the full-scale war, SodDiya has been uniting volunteer, public, state initiatives and business to support Ukrainians. Today we are launching the “SpilDiya Note” project to support those who help others and want to increase their usefulness. I am grateful to our partners – USAID/ENGAGE, IREX, HP Inc. and Microsoft for their systematic support of young people and trust in the implementation of the program. Let’s work together for victory!” said Iryna Tuliakova, founder and CEO of the “SOPHIA” Foundation.
Mehri Drakman, Director of the program “Dreaming and Acting” / IREX.
“Young people are able to develop and implement effective solutions in response to the urgent needs of Ukrainian society. From the first days of the volunteer platform “SpilDiya” USAID “Dreaming and Acting” program has been actively supporting its development, and now we are implementing such a large-scale project as “SpilDiya Note”, using the mechanism developed by young people to provide humanitarian assistance, educational and social services to the civilian population”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
USAID/ENGAGE is a 5-year program aimed at developing and supporting youth in Ukraine, creating an enabling environment in which young people will have the opportunity to realize their dreams, ideas and visions for the country’s development. Using a youth-centered approach – not for young people, but with young people – the program promotes youth innovation, entrepreneurship, increased participation in community decision-making and problem-solving at the national level, and strengthens the potential of Ukrainian youth to be a driving force for pluralism and respect for diversity. “Dreaming and Acting” engages young people in the development and implementation of projects and initiatives, and conducts research to inform youth policy and move towards effective and sustainable change.
Since the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion Ukraine has supplied to foreign markets 32.2 million tons of grain, pulses, oilseeds and their products, according to the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
At the same time in November 2022 5.9 million tons of agricultural products were shipped from the country, which is 1 million tons less than in the first October and September. By crops, 1.6 million tons of wheat (20% less than in October) and 2 million tons of corn (13% less) were shipped from Ukraine during a month.
In turn, exports of sunflower oil in November compared to the previous month increased by 8%, to 466 thousand tons, sunflower seed – by 27%, to 377 thousand tons, soybean – by 67%, to 385 thousand tons, while shipments of rapeseed decreased by almost half, to 412 thousand tons, meal of all kinds – by 25%, to 344 tons, soybean oil – by 36%, to 16 tons.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, 34.3% of foreign shipments of agricultural products in November were corn, 26.8% – corn, 7.9% – sunflower oil, 7.0% – rape, 6.5% – soybeans, 6.4% – sunflower seeds, 5.8% – meal, 5.0% – barley, 0.3% – soybean oil.
In addition, in the first nine months of the war from Ukraine exported 12.3 million tons of corn (38.2% of the total), 7.0 million tons of wheat (21.8%); 2.8 million tons of rape (8.6%); 2.8 million tons of sunflower oil (8.6%); 2.4 million tons of sunflower seed (7.4%); 1.9 million tons of meal (5.8%); 1.5 million tons of barley (4.7%); 1.3 million tons of soybeans (4.2%) and 168 tys. tons of soybean oil (0.5%).
As reported, in October and September, Ukraine exported 6.9 million tons of agricultural products, in August – 4.6 million tons, in July – 3.0 million tons, in June – 2.7 million tons, in May – 1.74 million tons, in April – 0.96 million tons and in March – 0.33 million tons.
Before Russia’s full-scale military invasion, Ukraine exported an average of 5-6 million tons of agricultural products per month, mostly through its maritime infrastructure in the Black Sea.
Mining and Metallurgical Group “Metinvest” continues to support defenders of Ukraine and in November at enterprises of Krivoy Rog the company manufactured and transferred to the military 12 metal shelters that will strengthen the trenches and protect soldiers from artillery fire.
According to a company press release, the modular shelters are produced by teams of fitters and electric and gas welders at different enterprises of the group. The structures are assembled from corrugated steel according to an advanced design, taking into account the needs of the military. Each structure is six meters long and more than two meters in diameter, but can be easily disassembled for transportation and relocation to other positions. Specialists spend about 400 hours to produce one such construction.
It is noted that the modular shelters for the military are multifunctional. Inside each of them they dispose of six wooden beds and make a lifting floor that can be used as a storage area. They also installed special compartments for storing ammunition and strategic supplies, and heaters with clothes dryers were installed for warmth. The metal stoves were also used to cook food and boil water. In case of danger, defenders will be able to exit through the blocks with an emergency exit.
Protective structures are needed by the military to protect our nation’s borders and on the front lines. Within the framework of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front militarized initiative, the company’s enterprises manufactured and delivered 40 reliable modular shelters to the Ukrainian military. Metinvest enterprises plan to produce them until the end of the war.
It is also reminded that in order to create comfortable conditions for the defenders during the cold season the workers of Kryvyi Rih enterprises delivered 300 huts to the front line. “Metinvest workers” also help the fighters with equipment, fuel, building materials and devices for arrangement of bunkers.
Another press release states that December 6 is the Armed Forces Day in Ukraine. “Metinvest congratulates the incredible Ukrainian military and thanks them for the opportunity to meet new mornings, live and work on their land.
“The whole world friendly to us and even enemies recognize that such a motivated, professional and brave army cannot be found – it is in Ukraine”, – stresses in the congratulation.
It is also noted that Metinvest’s Krivoy Rog enterprises have been side by side with the military since the first missile attack on the city. “We built defensive structures, produced metal hedgehogs, armor plates, provided equipment, fuel and spare parts, equipped the life of the defenders. In the workshops of the enterprises we produced burzhuyki to keep the soldiers warm. Metinvest Group provided all the mobilized workers with bullet-proof vests and helmets, and their families were supported by humanitarian aid from Saving Life. “Until the final Victory and after it Metinvest will be a reliable support of Ukraine and the AFU,” the statement summarizes.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Enterprises of the group are mainly located in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The major shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%) that manage it jointly.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
