Euro-2012 News Online

At today’s meeting Cabinet of Ministers is planning to correct state-run special purpose program on Euro-2012 organization in Ukraine.This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Timoshenko.

“The program helps us to get four cities ready to host Euro-2012 by December”, - says Yulia Timoshenko.

Moreover Prime Minister claims Euro-2012 organization financing schedule is going to be ratified today. It’s also planned to approve of the construction title of Olimpiyskiy NSC.

It was reported that a bill, previewing provision of tax remissions for such host-cities as Kharkov, Donetsk, Lvov and Kiev had been registered in Verkhovna Rada.

Vice Prime Minister Ivan Vasyunik states Ukraine is intending to attract loan from China for Europe Football Championship preparation.

He says it’s early to mention any precise figures so far, however Mr. Vasyunik adds that total amount of the loan can make some billion dollars.

According to I. Vasyunik, Ukraine is going to attract the loan under state guarantees.

He observed that Ukraine is already ready to take $ 500 mln to $ 1 bln loan to build roads for Euro-2012 in 2009.

In a few months to come one can expect concluding agreement with China regarding specific projects which can be realized through credit resources of China.

Earlier it was stated that the cost of highways reconstruction for Euro-2012 makes about 40 bln hryvnyas.

European Investment Bank’s considering the possibility to allocate EUR 300 mln for Ukraine with the aim to carry out projects on preparation to the Championship.

Vice Prime Minister Ivan Vasyunik told that government had appealed with the proper request to this bank.

“We have official letter from the European Investment Bank in which it’s stated that the Bank’s ready to consider the issue and by the end of September or October the decision will be adopted as to allocating to Ukraine additional EUR 300 mln for specific projects implementation”, - Mr. Vasyunik claims.

Vice Prime Minister underlines that the question is about projects in four host-cities. Study group is formed which makes up a list of specific projects and examines the possibility of granting state guarantees.

Airport terminals construction in Lvov and Donetsk and also state highways reconstruction and public transport management is included in the list of objects.

It was reported earlier that Ukraine’s intending to attract loan from China for preparation to host Europe Football Championship in 2012.

On Wednesday, June 17th, Cabinet of Ministers adopted resolution to get unemployed participating in organization of Europe Football Championship and building of social infrastructure objects.

Unemployed will have possibility to take part in national social works which will be financed from the state budget or by contractor building companies.

According to the deputy Minister of Labor and Social Politics Pavel Rozenko, those unemployed registered in employment agency will have chance to get work in the field of building and reconstruction of sport, transport, medical, tourist and media infrastructure, and also at Euro-2012 sites.

It is supposed that such workers won’t have pay envelope below minimum, which makes 625 hryvnyas.

It was reported before that the experts consider preparation of Ukrainian host-cities to hold Europe Championship 2012 rather problematic.

Experts consider  preparation of Ukrainian host-cities  to hold Europe Football Championship 2012 as problematic one.

As UNIAN was reported in Gorshenin Institute, deputy and ex-Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Viktor Korzh states National special purpose Program on Euro-2012 organization’s already been developed, but isn’t carried out yet.

“Calculations indicated by no means  require 100 % fulfillment.  Unfortunately we see no trace of it”, - claims V. Korzh, adding that Cabinet of Ministers is totally responsible for carrying out of the program.

“I‘d like to give an advice to the Cabinet: treat with all responsibility the issue as requires more than 100 % financing, especially now” - says ex-minister.

The expert’s convinced possible loss of Euro-2012 because of undue and insufficient state financing will influence negatively image of Ukraine.

Ilya Shevlyak, head of Coordinating Bureau for organization and hosting of Euro-2012 in Ukraine explains that at the moment proposals are being elaborated for  earmarked program influenced by reduction of host-cities, but they aren’t amended yet.

The official’s also highlighted importance of prompt financing for all the objects from the state budget.
 President of Sofia social research Center Andrey Yermolayev sees the source of problems with Euro-2012 financing in 2009 budget.

“The budget’s actually lost up, enormous miscalculations are related to profit issue, which is less than it was expected. In fact, none of the programs gets finances.
 Euro-2012 is in the spotlight, it’s always on the tongues, because it’s both image and accepted obligations problem, not only moral and political obligations but also economic ones”, - claims the expert.                                                                                         

As the most probable outcome A.Yermolayev considers the scenario, where only two Ukrainian cities (Kiev and Kharkov) will host Euro-2012.

Gorshenin institute’s also made attempt to get comments on the issue from Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Yury Pavlenko. The Minister refused commenting the situation by phone, alluding to the urgent need of gathering information and documents study, the institute reports.

It was earlier mentioned that ticket sale for Europe Championship matches would begin in March, 2011.