Ukraine must implement over 200 EU environmental laws in membership push

Natalia Andrushevych, Chair of the Board at the Resource and Analysis Center Society and Environment, said this in an interview for the European Space program with Yuriy Fizer on Espreso.

“On June 16, so-called bilateral meetings between Ukraine and the European Union will begin in Brussels regarding Chapter 27, ‘Environment and Climate Change.’ These will be five intensive days during which our officials will present what has already been accomplished in the fields of environment and climate, the current state of affairs, the challenges Ukraine faces, and our future plans—what we intend to do in the near term.

This raises the question: are there many obligations? In fact, there are a great many, as the ‘Environment and Climate Change’ chapter is considered one of the most difficult. This is confirmed by both countries that have already joined the EU and those, like Ukraine, that are currently preparing for accession,” Andrushevych noted.

According to the head of the Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment,” there are two especially challenging areas. The first involves fundamental reforms: freedom of speech, the judicial system, and so on. The second is environment and climate change. 

“In terms of numbers, we’re talking about approximately 210 European Union acts that Ukraine must incorporate into its legislation. This list covers every possible area in the field of environment and climate: air quality, water, waste, cross-cutting issues such as environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, nature protection, chemicals—essentially everything related to environmental and climate policy,” Andrushevych explained.

She added that this is an important stage, and there is great hope that the government delegation will be able to present the results achieved with dignity.

“After all, the content of the screening report to be presented by the European Commission and the further course of the process depend on this: whether the ‘Environment and Climate Change’ negotiation chapter will be opened this year, and how quickly we will move toward EU membership,” Andrushevych emphasized.

• Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna stated that Ukraine has an agreement with EU member states and the European Commission that the negotiation chapters for Kyiv’s accession to the bloc will be opened simultaneously.