Ukraine launches screening under Cluster 4, Green Agenda and Sustainable Connections

Service of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, posted 17 June 2025 08:28

On Monday, June 16, the delegation of Ukraine started bilateral screening meetings with the European Commission under Chapter 27 “Environment and Climate Change”, which belongs to Cluster 4 “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connections”. Thus, today Ukraine begins screening with the EU under the fifth negotiation Cluster.

In her opening remarks, Chief Negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna reported that Ukraine's negotiating team had thoroughly prepared for the five days of screening.

"The bilateral session that we are starting today will demonstrate Ukraine's transformational changes to align its policies with the goals of a climate-neutral European continent by 2050. This is a common European goal of both the European Union and Ukraine, and we are making significant efforts to realize our common, sustainable future, responsible to future generations," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to her, even before the full-scale russian invasion, Ukraine was one of the leading countries in bringing its policies in line with the European Green Deal and its goals.

"We were one of the first European countries to approve the ambitious 2030 climate target. We have been working very intensively to achieve the goal and implement the relevant measures. In this document, we have determined that the only situation that can prevent us from moving forward in accordance with the defined timelines and goals is military aggression. And, unfortunately, we are really facing aggression now. But even in the face of war, today the Ukrainian team will prove that our commitments remain unchanged," the official said.

In her remarks, she said that despite the military aggression, Ukraine has managed to make significant progress in the area of green policy. In particular, our country has demonstrated its commitment to the use of standards and the ability to implement comprehensive reforms.

To achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, Ukraine is already introducing EU instruments. In particular, during 2022-2025, Ukraine has developed and approved the Strategy for Environmental Security and Adaptation to Climate Change, the Climate Policy Strategy, the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the Action Plan for the Emissions Trading System, and resumed mandatory reporting under the MRV Law (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification). In addition, Ukraine has recently approved nine river basin management plans.

Olha Stefanishyna also informed her European colleagues that within the framework of horizontal legislation, Ukraine has legislation on environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in force.

"Ukraine's green recovery commitments allow us to rebuild our economy and restore ecosystems in a more sustainable and resilient way. Ukraine is recovering and rebuilding with the understanding that green transition and green recovery are a priority. But we need serious EU expertise and flexibility to ensure that both the green recovery goals and the recovery itself are achieved. And I think we can consider a concrete action plan that will allow us to achieve both of these goals simultaneously," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Regarding accelerated integration, she emphasized that Ukraine already has a successful experience of joining LIFE and is in the process of joining the European Environment Agency. Accelerated integration should also contribute to decarbonization and a just transition, so Ukraine also sees benefits in accessing the Modernization Fund and the Social Climate Fund.

"I believe that our meetings will demonstrate that Ukraine's main commitment is to contribute to the creation of a greener, more sustainable, safer and cleaner European continent. Ukraine is proving that it is committed to this effort and is capable of achieving all the goals set. I hope that today's discussions will soon lead to the opening of the relevant Cluster, and that we will pave the way for this decision by opening the first Negotiating Cluster this summer," added Olha Stefanishyna.

On the first day of the bilateral meetings, the Ukrainian delegation presented progress in the climate block. In particular, the parties focused on the approximation of national legislation to the European Climate Law, emissions trading systems (including aviation, maritime transportation, and ETS2 sectors), a mechanism for sharing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CO₂ standards for transport, and regulation of fluorinated gases and substances that deplete the ozone layer.

The bilateral meetings will last five days, from June 16 to 20, 2025. Participating in the meeting are Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine for European Integration Olha Yukhymchuk, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleksandr Semenets, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Maryna Denysiuk, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Viktoriia Kyreeva, Head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine Viktor Smal, Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization Roman Prymush, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for European Integration Maryna Slobodnichenko, representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, Ministry of Energy, State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine, The State Service for Geology and Subsoil, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and others.