SOME MEMBER STATES MAY BE EXEMPTED FROM NEW LOAN TO KYIV

BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 12 /SRNA – RIA Novosti/ - The EU may allow member states that do not wish to participate to opt out of a new 45-billion-euro loan to Ukraine, a European diplomatic source told Russia's Izvestia daily.

The same source says that EU leaders will discuss additional funding for Ukraine for next year today at the European Political Community summit in Dublin and tomorrow at an informal meeting.

"If no agreement on the loan is reached, discussions will continue at the next summit on November 26 and 27. It is highly likely that countries unwilling to participate will be allowed to opt out," the source said.

The source reminded that Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic had expressed reservations about contributing to the new loan to Ukraine.

Member of the European Parliament Pekka Toveri stressed that approval of the loan does not require the support of all EU member states, but that the key point is ensuring that no country blocks it.