Ukraine Fails to Fulfill its Obligations to the EU Regarding Environmental Laws
Any delays in the adoption of the draft laws “On Environmental Impact Assessment” and “On Strategic Environmental Assessment” can lead to a loss of European partners’ confidence. This is stated in the material provided by Anastasiia Yermakova, Information Manager of the DiXi Group Think Tank, posted in a blog of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
It should be mentioned that Petro Poroshenko vetoed both draft laws and returned them to the Verkhovna Rada for revision. According to the expert, such veto is not positive for Ukraine.
“A lot of changes that Ukraine should implement refer to the environment. Our government has undertaken to adopt the draft laws “On Environmental Impact Assessment” and “On Strategic Environmental Assessment.” The adoption of such laws is also a part of the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement with the Energy Community,” says the expert.
The veto of two draft laws was condemned by some Ukrainian experts and by representatives of European organizations. In particular, the Head of the External Support Program Department of the Energy, Transport and Environment Section of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Mr. Johannes Baur said that the veto of the law “On Strategic Environmental Assessment” is bad news for the plans regarding closer integration of Ukraine, since the adoption of such draft law and its subsequent implementation is a part of the obligations under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the Agreement for Joining Energy Community.
“Environmental issues should not be perceived as a “terrible” challenge or an obstacle for conducting business. Especially considering the fact that the latest versions of both draft laws were agreed by all stakeholders: executive authorities, the public and business. Moreover, the documents were adopted by European investors, who say they are ready to develop business in Ukraine, but only if European rules are adopted in the market. Ukraine, which is already significantly behind the schedule in implementing reforms, should adopt the relevant draft laws as soon as possible, or we are at risk of losing the European partners’ confidence,” writes the author of the article.
