The Government of The Netherlands has committed €8 million ($8.6 million) to a project aimed at stabilizing and restoring governance, safety, security, and social cohesion in Ukraine’s liberated territories. This announcement comes from the signing of an “Arrangement on Implementation” in Kyiv on 5 December 2023 by the Dutch Foreign Minister, Hanke Bruins Slot, and the Head of the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, Rolf Holmboe.
The funding is directed towards supporting Ukraine’s Civilian Security Sector Agencies in their challenges of re-establishing security, operationalizing basic services and public institutions, and rebuilding social cohesion in areas recently liberated by the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, upon entering these liberated areas, face a multitude of new responsibilities. They are tasked with building mine awareness, particularly among children, engaging in community policing to resolve conflicts and de-escalate tensions, and swiftly investigating potential war crimes.
These agencies often find themselves as the first responders in these areas, usually devoid of infrastructure and equipment due to the destruction or looting by the Russian Armed Forces.
EUAM Ukraine plays a pivotal role in assisting Ukrainian authorities in re-establishing state presence and delivering services in the liberated areas. The mission’s support includes pre-deployment training and hands-on support during deployment, focusing on capacity building for dealing with International Crimes.
However, there is a critical need for essential equipment for these agencies to perform their duties effectively. This includes mobile police stations, IT and forensic equipment to process war crime scenes, and communications tools to operate in challenging conditions.
Minister Bruins Slot, in her meeting with EUAM’s Head of Mission and key advisors, expressed pride and admiration for the work being done in Ukraine. In Kyiv, she also emphasized the significant role of EUAM in supporting Ukraine’s pursuit of justice and accountability for the atrocities committed by Russian forces during the war.
On 17 November, the Dutch government earmarked an additional €2 billion ($2.2 billion) in military aid for Ukraine in 2024, in what the country’s defense minister Kajsa Ollongren said was a sign of unwavering support for Kyiv’s war against Russia.
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