Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ostap Semerak met with Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Brussels, Belgium. The parties agreed to launch the first consultations on the accession of Ukraine to the EU program Life+ and the acquisition of future partner status in the European Environment Agency (EEA).

According to the Minister, such partnership will allow local communities to receive funding for environmental projects on the ground.

He also noted that Ukraine is already implementing a number of projects in cooperation with the European Environment Agency, but the official partnership will allow to make a quantum leap in cooperation.

“Getting a new status in the EEA – it is a prospect that will require a lot of work. But this path should be started. It will enable Ukraine to finally introduce European tools for assessing the state of the environment, thereby paving the way for approving far-reaching decisions”, Ostap Semerak underscored.