Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 1 February, I attended a Special European Council in Brussels. The main item on the agenda was the mid-term review of the EU budget for the period 2021-27, including agreement on a €50 billion assistance package for Ukraine.

The package agreed provides an additional financial envelope in the budget of €64.6 billion, through a mix of new and existing funds.

Taking account of redeployments of €10.6 billion, and the €33 billion in loans in the money for Ukraine, the net amount of new monies being committed under the revision is €21 billion.

€50 billion will now go to the Ukraine Facility – €17 billion in grants and €33 billion in loans - that puts financial assistance for Ukraine over the next four years onto a predictable and sustainable footing.

Additional funding will also now be available for priorities including migration, external action and the solidarity and emergency reserve that supports Member States subject to disasters.

We also held a strategic discussion on the situation in the Middle East. I once again strongly advocated for an immediate ceasefire that would allow access for the humanitarian supplies so urgently needed in Gaza, as well as for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.

We also discussed challenges facing the agricultural sector and significant concerns raised by farmers in several Member States.