After EU enlargement in 2004 the European Union works with neighbouring countries (including Ukraine) within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), a new direction of its foreign policy. Among other issues, the ENP points out the importance of the environmental protection as one of the cooperation areas between the EU and neighbouring countries.
The Action Plans, agreed between the EU and national governments of the neighbouring countries, are the main instrument of implementation of the ENP at national level. The Action Plans will promote good environmental governance in partner countries to prevent environmental degradation and pollution, protect human health, and achieve a more rational use of natural resources. The EU-Ukraine Action Plan (2007-2009) was adopted in 2005, and in 2008 it was prolonged till 2009.
The EU-Ukraine Action Plan contains provisions on environmental protection. Nevertheless, it is weak from environmental point of view. The environmental protection and sustainable development are not among the priorities of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan. The Action Plan promotes the integration of the environmental considerations into other sectors, but the environmental issues are not taken into account into the Action Plan itself (in such fields as transport, energy, agriculture, etc.).
To implement the provisions of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan the Government of Ukraine each year adopts the Measures to implement the EU-Ukraine Action Plan, which contain detailed provisions for implementation of concrete provisions of the Action Plan, timelines and responsible state bodies. There is a low level of implementation of these measures in the field of environmental protection; they are regularly postponed for next years. The main progress is observed in the field of climate change.
There is a need for independent monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan. Some steps in this direction are taken, but still there is no clear methodology and resource for such monitoring.
Also, there is a need to strengthen the role of civil society in the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the EU-Ukraine-Action Plan.
The effective implementation of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan and its independent assessment are very important in the light of preparation of the new enhanced agreement between the EU and Ukraine to be signed soon. The current Agreement on Cooperation and Partnership between the EU and Ukraine expires this year.
RAC “Society and Environment” together with its partners works to strengthen the environmental component of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan, its effective implementation and makes the monitoring of the environmental issues of the Action Plan. This includes the awareness raising work about the ENP and ENPI issues, as well as strengthening the possibilities of civil society to participate in the processes related to implementation of the ENP in Ukraine.
Projects:
- Strengthening Public Participation in European Neighbourhood Policy (2008-2009)
- Development of publication and web-based resource on European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (2008)
Publications:
