Ukraine coordinates next steps for environmental reforms on the path to the EU
Coordinating the efforts of the Ukrainian Government and international partners to advance European integration reforms in the field of environmental protection was the key topic of the meeting of the Sectoral Working Group on Environment, Climate, and Green Transition. The group is co-chaired by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, and the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine.
“Even amid a full-scale war, Ukraine continues to pursue environmental reforms and move toward European integration. We thank our international partners for their continued support,” emphasized Deputy Minister and Sectoral Working Group Co-Chair Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi as he opened the meeting.
During the event, a new phase of strategic cooperation between the Government and UNDP was also announced. This involves the launch of the Green Accession Policy Lab (GAP Lab) project, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to implement environmental and climate reforms within the framework of Negotiation Chapter 27, “Environment and Climate Change.”
The project involves developing practical solutions for the effective implementation of European Union legislation and is open to all interested donors.
“Ukraine has already completed a significant portion of the preparatory work for progress under Chapter 27. The next step is the practical implementation of reforms and working with the European Commission to assess our progress, as well as meeting the benchmarks for the successful conclusion of the negotiation process with the EU,” said Deputy Minister Daria Marchak, who coordinates European integration efforts at the Ministry.
The event was attended by over 70 participants, including representatives of Ukraine’s central executive authorities, international organizations, and development partners, such as the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, UNESCO, the OSCE, UNICEF, OECD, UNEP, GIZ, the World Bank, as well as the embassies of the Republic of Lithuania, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and other countries.
The Sectoral Working Group reaffirmed its role as a key platform for coordinating international support aimed at reforming environmental policy, fulfilling European integration commitments, and implementing the principles of Ukraine’s green recovery.
Background information
The Sectoral Working Group on Environment, Climate, and Green Transition (SWG) was established by the Government in December 2024. The SWG’s objective is to ensure strategic coordination among Ukrainian government agencies, international partners, financial institutions, and other stakeholders regarding the development and implementation of state policy in the areas of environmental protection, climate policy, and the adaptation of plans to new challenges in the process of Ukraine’s reform and green recovery.