EU provides aid to Ukraine's energy sector

The European Union announced it was providing funding for Ukraine to support programs that would reduce energy consumption. About 20 percent of Europe's natural gas comes from Russia, though 80 percent of that runs through Soviet-era pipelines in Ukraine. Europe aims to bring diversity through its energy sector through a series of transit alternatives outlined in the so-called Southern Corridor. The European Union said it would hand Ukraine around $20 million to support efforts to cut energy consumption in Ukraine. This, the EU said in a statement, should result in reduced carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. The funding is part of a $141.8 million package that includes aid targeting economic integration with the EU. Kiev's economy was in tatters due to the recession that started in 2008. Europe had backed from Kiev in response to the seven-year prison sentence imposed on former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The European community, however, has slowly started to retrace its steps. "Transparent, well-functioning institutions and administrative procedures in line with European standards are fundamental to Ukraine's efforts at political association and economic integration with the EU," stated European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule.