On the sidelines of the “United for Nature. Agenda for Ukraine” International Environmental Forum, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets discussed the challenges of the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the EU with his European colleagues – Minister of Environment, Water and Forests of Romania Mircea Fechet, Minister of Environment of Moldova Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov, and Minister of Environment and Water of Bulgaria Julian Popov.

“Despite the war, Ukraine is confidently fulfilling its obligations to the European Union and improving its achievements. Thanks to the self-screening of environmental legislation, we have systematised the work on its adaptation to EU standards. Now we have a roadmap and can plan the Ministry’s strategy for several years ahead,” said Ruslan Strilets.

The results of the self-screening showed that the Environment and Climate Change section is in the top 5 in terms of the number of EU legal acts to be implemented. This includes almost 200 directives and regulations. The list is growing in number and complexity every year, but there are plans to implement most of the directives and regulations by 2026.

“The biggest challenge is cross-sectoral coordination. Environmental and climate protection must be integrated into almost all sectors of the economy – energy, subsoil use, infrastructure, agriculture, transport and construction,” said Ruslan Strilets.

According to Ruslan Strilets, the European Commission’s 2023 report on the progress of Ukraine’s European integration identified five important environmental and climate reforms. This is our roadmap:

• Preventing industrial pollution. We are implementing the 75th Industrial Emissions Directive and advocating for the adoption of the law this year.
• Climate policy. The Law of Ukraine “On the basic principles of state climate policy” should create a framework for national climate policy. We are working on our next Nationally Determined Contribution. It will be more ambitious than the current one.
• Market-based carbon pricing mechanisms. We plan to adopt an action plan to establish a national greenhouse gas emissions trading system by 2025. The mandatory MRV system will be restored by 2025.
• Restoration and conservation of natural resources. Implementation of legislation to reduce deforestation and forest degradation by 2026.
• Development of the circular economy. Together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, we will work on adopting a strategy for implementing the principles of the circular economy and an Action Plan until 2025.

“Ukraine is ready for these challenges, and we greatly appreciate the EU’s support and partnership on this difficult but important path. EU membership is not an ultimate goal for us, but a path to our green future,” Ruslan Strilets concluded.