Ukraine joins the European Environment Agency and the Eionet Network

Ukraine has joined the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) as a partner country. This opens up new opportunities for developing environmental monitoring systems, managing environmental data, and implementing European standards in the fields of the environment and climate. The EEA Management Board approved this status on June 18.

Granting Ukraine partner country status is an important step toward European integration and preparation for membership in the European Union. Cooperation with the EEA and Eionet will help strengthen institutional capacity, develop modern environmental information systems, and fulfill commitments within the EU accession negotiation process.

“Today is an important day for Ukraine. We are pleased to join the European Environment Agency and the Eionet as a partner country and become part of the European environmental community. This comes at a particularly important moment, as Ukraine moves forward in its EU accession negotiations and confidently continues on its path toward European integration. Despite the enormous challenges caused by ongoing russian aggression, Ukraine continues to implement environmental reforms and strengthen its institutions. Cooperation with the EEA will help us improve our environmental monitoring and information systems, comply with EU environmental legislation, and deepen Ukraine’s integration into the European space. We are grateful to the European Commission, the EEA, and the member states for their trust, solidarity, and continued support,” said Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Ukraine has become the eighth country to join the EEA and Eionet, following the Republic of Moldova and the countries of the Western Balkans. The EEA network now comprises 32 member countries and 8 partner countries across Europe.

“Ukraine’s path toward European integration is one of the most powerful demonstrations of European values in recent years. Ukraine’s accession to the EEA/Eionet family is a recognition of this commitment and a practical investment in the environmental sustainability of the entire continent. Now that the EU has taken an important step forward and officially launched negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, there is still much work ahead, especially given that the country’s resources are limited due to the ongoing war. Timely preparation, resource sharing, closer cooperation, and integration into existing processes are important steps forward. “I am convinced that cooperation with the EEA will continue to facilitate data-driven decision-making and strengthen institutional capacity. A country that continues to align with EU environmental standards even in the midst of war deserves our full support,” said Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy.

“We are very pleased to welcome Ukraine as a partner country of the European Environment Agency. Environmental challenges know no borders, so cooperation is essential to addressing them effectively. We are already working closely with our Ukrainian colleagues within the Energy Community and previous regional projects, and we hope to further develop this collaboration. The environmental damage caused by the war is a cause for concern throughout Europe, and joint work in the areas of monitoring, data, and assessment will be an important component of our partnership,” noted EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.

Cooperation between Ukraine and the EEA is based on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and is part of the process of preparing for EU membership. It provides for Ukraine’s gradual integration into the Agency’s systems, networks, and platforms; the development of national capacities in the collection, analysis, and exchange of environmental data; and alignment with European approaches to environmental governance.

Particular attention will be paid to developing systems for state environmental monitoring, environmental reporting, data management, and information exchange in accordance with European standards. This will also help prepare Ukraine to meet the requirements of Chapter 27, “Environment and Climate Change,” as part of the EU accession negotiation process.

Background information

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is a European Union agency that provides independent environmental information to support policy-making and decision-making in the field of the environment.

The European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) brings together EEA member and partner countries to collect, analyze, and share environmental information.