The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft law "On amendments to the Law "On environmental impact assessment" .
The new regulations are designed to shorten the procedure from 216 days to 67, as well as to update the functionality of the electronic registry of the EIA, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources reports on Facebook.
It is noted that the new draft law will make the EIA procedure more convenient and preserve all its elements. After all, it is currently one of the key tools for ecologically balanced, sustainable development of Ukraine.
"Almost 5 years of practical application of the EIA mechanism showed us in which direction to work on its improvement. Our goal is to ensure post-war reconstruction and business development in accordance with high European environmental standards. At the same time, not to waste extra time where it can be avoided," commented the head of the Ministry of Environment, Ruslan Strilets.
He emphasized that the holding of the EIA is an international obligation of Ukraine, which is extremely important during European integration.
The message noted that the new draft law provides for:
- reduction of the EIA procedure from 216 days to 67 days and automation of its stages;
- elimination of discretionary powers of officials when making decisions;
- transferring the procedure completely into a digital format.
In addition, the updated functionality of the EIA electronic register will allow to ensure:
- convenient and effective public participation in the procedure;
- targeted information about the start of the procedure;
- the ability to subscribe to selected cases online and monitor the course of their consideration.
"We hope for the support of the draft law in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," Strilets emphasized.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the professional association of ecologists of Ukraine (PAEU) accused the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of complicating the environmental impact assessment procedure (EIA), while the European community simplifies it.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the European Union is taking emergency measures to deploy green energy, in particular speeding up permitting procedures and exempts some renewable energy projects from passing EIA.
