Процедури екологічної оцінки як наріжний камінь відновлення України

On June 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM, the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center will host a discussion “The EU Can Close the Door: Why Environmental Procedures Have Become a Key Issue in Post-URC Recovery.” The event will be held at 2 Khreshchatyk St., Kyiv. Participation is available both offline and online via Zoom. Simultaneous translation into Ukrainian and English will be provided for all participants. Civil society organizations that developed the White Paper on Improving Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment procedures are invited to the presentation of the White Paper and an expert discussion. Following the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, the discussion on how to ensure a rapid, yet safe and sustainable recovery of the country is becoming increasingly relevant. In this context, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) are among the key tools for protecting the health and well-being of citizens, preserving the natural resources on which the economy depends, and forming transparent and predictable rules of the game for business. Proper application of these procedures not only contributes to improving the quality of environmental decisions, but also strengthens the investment attractiveness of projects, reduces risks for investors and the state, and avoids significant social, environmental and economic costs in the future. During the event, participants will discuss: • why the right to a safe environment is a constitutional right of Ukrainian citizens and cannot be postponed until after reconstruction; • what signal regarding environmental standards and the quality of reconstruction are the European Union and international partners sending to Ukraine; • why international financial institutions and investors need transparent environmental procedures and clear “rules of the game”; • how attempts to circumvent EIA and SEA procedures can lead to litigation, project implementation delays, reputational damage and a deterioration in the investment climate; • why public participation is an effective mechanism for preventing conflicts and increasing the sustainability of reconstruction projects. Participants: Yaroslav Teleshun (moderator), Head of the Policy and Advocacy Department, WWF-Ukraine. Yulia Ovchinnikova, People's Deputy of Ukraine, Chair of the Subcommittee on Forest Resources, Fauna and Flora, Natural Landscapes and Nature Reserve Fund Objects of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management. Ovchinnikova will talk about the European dimension of environmental assessment and environmental standards on Ukraine's path to EU membership. Marcela McAndrew, International Relations Specialist, Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission, will talk about environmental assessment as a component of the European reconstruction model. Petro Testov, a representative of the public organization “Teren”, will provide examples that were caused by the circumvention of EIA and SEA procedures, as well as their impact on environmental policy. Yuriy Zadorozhny, an expert on socio-political issues of the NGO “Ecoclub” will talk about public participation and public control as prerequisites for sustainable reconstruction. Olga Melen-Zabramna, head of the legal department of the NGO “Ecology-Law-People” will outline the institutional challenges and legal mechanisms for ensuring high-quality environmental assessment in Ukraine.