MEPs and other members of the United for Ukraine Interparliamentary Network stated that it is necessary for the country to develop and implement the Green Marshall Plan.
It will take into account significant investments – € 750 billion – to restore basic critical infrastructure and modernize the economy, the press service reports State Energy Efficiency.
"We owe it to the Ukrainian people to start preparing a plan that will help them recover for a better, sustainable European future," the network's representatives said in a joint statement.
They believe that the bold new Green Marshall Plan will help not only Ukraine, but also Europe to be more resilient in the face of threats to energy security and the climate crisis.
The message emphasized that since Ukraine has successfully repelled Russian aggression and received the status of a candidate for EU membership, the future of Ukraine and Europe is now being rethought.
The material noted that in order to achieve success, it is necessary to solve problems in six key strategic areas:
- Emergency assistance, restoration of critical infrastructure and affected cities;
The authors explained that from the early stages, the reconstruction of Ukraine should be based on European standards and comply with the accession process. Thus, new infrastructure must be sustainable and meet the needs of adaptation to climate change, and new buildings must be designed with a high level of energy efficiency and reduce energy demand.
- Promotion of economic integration and preparation of Ukraine for EU membership;
Regulation of climate and environmental issues will mean the implementation of the European Green Deal in areas such as the circular economy, chemical safety, industrial pollution and environmental control.
- Re-equipment of Ukrainian industry to make it a driver of decarbonization of economic development:
The message noted that the production of steel, fertilizers and other goods should be restored on a new technological basis, which will require large investments.
- Accelerating the energy transition in the entire region by integrating Ukraine into European energy markets and production chains of ecological technologies;
"The historic Energy Union project aimed at creating a single energy market across the continent is now available. It is necessary to expand electricity trade with Ukraine and make it a center of renewable energy for the entire EU," the message reads.
- Gradual cessation of fossil fuel imports to Europe and its replacement with green energy from Ukraine;
The authors believe that it is worth transferring renewable energy technologies to Ukraine and localizing the production of equipment there – the production of wind turbines, solar panels, biogas plants and electrolyzers. This will simultaneously contribute to the development of Ukraine's economy and allow it to share the huge potential of renewable energy with other European countries through the export of green energy.
- Creating a massive wave of employment with thousands of green jobs for both Ukraine and EU member states.
"For example, the construction and reconstruction of energy-efficient housing, the expansion of transport infrastructure, the creation of new branches of industry and production will require mass mobilization of the workforce. For this, we need close cooperation with the aim of developing and employing a qualified workforce," the message said.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the leaders of the world's leading economies agreed on the Marshall Green Plan in the transition to clean energy, to ensure a cleaner, greener, freer, fairer and safer future for people and the planet.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, deputy Lesya Vasylenko said that Ukraine, during post-war reconstruction, could become the engine of Europe's ambitions on achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
