The agreement was signed by Lviv City Mayor Andriy Sadovyy, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and Iryna Ivanyshyn, Director of LvivElectroTrans. The project envisages a potential EBRD loan of €13.5 million, with a further €7.5 million in grant funding expected to be secured. The total project cost is €21 million.

LvivElectroTrans carries more than 150,000 passengers every day, operating a fleet of 150 trams and trolleybuses.

“It is an honour for us to support you in this project to strengthen the resilience of Lviv’s transport system. I am genuinely impressed by the resilience of Ukraine, your city, private businesses, companies, institutions and healthcare sector. I am delighted that this project will make a further contribution to your resilience, and I look forward to our continued cooperation,” said Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Lviv City Mayor Andriy Sadovyy emphasised that the project would make the city’s electric public transport more independent during critical situations that may threaten the city in winter.

“The EBRD is our largest partner in investing in the city’s economy, so I am very pleased that we have the opportunity to take such important steps towards the city’s development and greater resilience. This is also the first time in the Bank’s history that its most senior official has visited Lviv, and we are delighted that this is happening today,” said Andriy Sadovyy.

Lviv First Deputy Mayor Andriy Moskalenko noted that cooperation between Lviv and the EBRD had been ongoing since 2008. During this period, the city has secured a total of €217 million in financing: €172 million in loans and €45 million in grants.

The partnership has encompassed 12 joint projects, eight of which have been completed, while four are currently being implemented. These include the tram line to Sykhiv, the electronic ticketing system, a biogas project, road repairs and support for the city’s critical infrastructure during the war.

With EBRD support, the city has also purchased new trams and trolleybuses, reconstructed the tram depot and trolleybus overhead contact network, modernised traction substations and built a new one.

During the meeting, the parties discussed potential areas for future cooperation. The mayor highlighted the challenging funding situation facing the city, noting that local authorities are increasingly being assigned new expenditure responsibilities while more and more funds are being withdrawn from local budgets, including four percentage points of personal income tax (PIT) revenue.

Andriy Sadovyy also outlined several projects currently being developed in Lviv that could benefit from EBRD financing. These include the tram line to Mykolaichuk Street, the construction of a new surgical building for the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre, and a centre for treating addiction among adolescents.

The discussions also covered support programmes for veterans and medical professionals, as well as various educational initiatives, including those at UNBROKEN University.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Odile Renaud-Basso made an entry in Lviv’s Book of Distinguished Guests:

“I am extremely pleased to visit your city of Lviv! We have spoken so often about your vision and your highly ambitious and important projects, which are so essential for the city and the entire country.

The EBRD is pleased to provide financial support and help bring these projects to fruition, as well as to support Ukraine! You can count on our continued commitment.”

Following the meeting, Odile Renaud-Basso, accompanied by Andriy Sadovyy and Lviv’s Chief Architect, Anton Kolomieitsev, took a walking tour of the city. They visited the “Place of Hope” in Market Square, the Boim Chapel, the Garrison Church and the Columns of Remembrance nearby, as well as the historic architecture of the city centre’s narrow streets.

The final stop was the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Memorial, where they jointly lit memorial candles and paid tribute to all those who gave their lives for Ukraine.

As part of her visit, Odile Renaud-Basso also visited the UNBROKEN centre, where she saw firsthand how people injured in Russia’s war against Ukraine are treated and rehabilitated in Lviv. She also toured the Lviv municipal solid waste landfill, where she planted a Ginnala maple tree.

Background

Ukraine is one of the EBRD’s top three investment destinations. The Bank’s investments are complemented by policy support aimed at combating corruption, improving the governance of state-owned enterprises, advancing structural reforms and creating a more transparent business environment.

The EBRD’s total cumulative financing for Ukraine over the entire period of its cooperation with the country amounts to €23 billion.

Photo: Roman Baluk