The agenda of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management included draft laws on subsoil and mountain settlements, as well as the preparation of a final decision on an off-site meeting in Zakarpattia.
Details of the decisions were posted on the Committee's website.
Regulation of the use of Ukrainian subsoil
Members of the eco-committee considered draft laws related to improving subsoil use.
- Draft Law No. 14249 aims to amend the Subsoil Code of Ukraine to improve the legal regulation of subsoil use and provide guarantees for investors. The importance of this document lies in the fact that the terms of subsoil use and rights to purchase extracted resources are the subject of an agreement between Ukraine and the United States. The document concerns the creation of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund.
- Draft Law No. 14250 clarifies certain provisions regarding subsoil use. It is planned to implement this by amending the Subsoil Code of Ukraine, the Mining Law of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine “On Oil and Gas,” and “On the Regulation of Urban Development Activities.”
Both draft laws are recommended to be adopted as a basis. The second draft – subject to revision in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada.
Mountain settlements
The Eco-Committee reviewed a draft law that would amend Article 2 of Law No. 13589 "On the Status of Mountain Settlements in Ukraine." The document aims to remove artificial barriers that prevent settlements from obtaining "mountain" status.
The draft law needs to take into account a number of comments and proposals, so parliamentarians sent it back for further revision.
Transcarpathian wind farms
In November, members of the eco-committee, together with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada's European Integration Committee, held an off-site meeting in the Transcarpathian region. The topic was the implementation of large-scale investment projects, in particular the construction of wind farms. The eco-committee's proposals were included in the joint decision.
EcoPolitic reported on the key recommendations contained in the document. To combat the destruction of Carpathian primeval forests, manipulation of legislation, and inaction by law enforcement agencies, the final decision contains tasks for the government, relevant ministries, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and regional authorities.
