The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Yevhenii Fedorenko, said that over the past year, Ukraine managed to make a number of reform decisions in the environmental sphere, which bring the country closer to the EU.
This happened during the 8th meeting of Cluster 3 of the Association Committee between Ukraine and the EU, which was dedicated to environmental issues, the Ministry of Environment reports on Facebook.
It is noted that the meeting discussed the state of implementation of European legislation in Ukraine, movement along the green course, climate policy and fulfillment of obligations under the Paris Agreement, as well as green reconstruction of the country.
Fedorenko emphasized that despite the war, Ukraine continues to fulfill its international obligations and strives for the fastest possible integration into the EU.
Among the achievements of 2022, he named the beginning of reforms in:
- waste management;
- forest industry;
- water policy;
- strengthening chemical safety;
- environmental monitoring, etc
"Currently, 9 European integration bills are in the Ukrainian parliament. The Ministry plans to develop another 27 draft laws and more than 170 normative legal acts in the next two years to further approximate our legislation to EU law," said Fedorenko.
According to him, the government of Ukraine is already building the foundation for the restoration of the country on the basis of the European green course. The reconstruction of Ukraine will be the largest project since the Second World War. Private investments are expected in various areas of the economy, in particular in renewable energy, mining and processing of minerals, logistics and construction.
The message emphasized that, according to European partners, there have been some changes in EU legislation regarding the green course. In particular, in the rules of waste removal, combating their illegal burial, promotion of circular economy, development of sustainable products, ecological plastic, implementation of measures against deforestation and protection of soil, biodiversity, etc. The block is ready to help Ukraine in their implementation.
They also expressed hope that the issues of climate and environment will continue to be among the priorities for Ukraine. And green recovery will give Ukraine the opportunity to quickly modernize.
"The European Union is also concerned about the damage caused to the Ukrainian environment as a result of the war, and is ready to provide the necessary assistance to reduce this negative impact," the press service emphasized.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets said that the European green course can become the basis of the post-war green development of Ukraine and solve those problems that arose after February 24, 2022.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the full-scale war in 11 months has damaged the environment of Ukraine losses of more than $46 billion, which Russia will be required to compensate.
