
Ostap Semerak and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine discussed prospects for deepening cooperation in environmental protection sector
Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ostap
Semerak held a meeting with the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine Hermine
Poppeller. The special emphasis was placed on the
state of implementation of the European environmental law.
Ostap Semerak
pointed out that for the first time in 25 years, the
Government has determined issues pertaining to the environmental protection as
the core priorities of the state policy.
In this regard, the Minister stressed the importance of reforming the
existing environmental controlling bodies and creating structures that would
meet modern requirements and could put into practice the best practices of the
European Union in environmental protection sector.
The conversation also involved the prospects of the Ukrainian renewable
energy market for Austrian investors. Ostap Semerak noted that Austria has launched a large number of
modern technologies projects in this sector that could be of special interest
to Ukraine in terms of strengthening its position regarding energy efficiency
and energy independence. Moreover, he stressed that the Government is promoting
the ease of doing business and urged Austrian investors to invest in
"green projects" on the territory of Ukraine.
Hermine Poppeller
drew a peculiar attention to problems of the environment in Donbass
region.
Ostap Semerak
assured that Ukraine has a very important ecological rehabilitation of its own
territories that suffered as a result of hostilities. He also expressed the
conviction that Austria, as the presiding country in the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe will continue to uphold the staunchest
position of de-escalation of conflicts, the restoration of intergovernmental
confidence, which is a key element for the further development and
implementation of a sustainable development model in the world.
Moreover, the sides exchanged views on promising areas of international
cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Austria, inter alia on
environmental issues and the possibility of implementing joint environmental
projects.