Environmental assessment procedures as the cornerstone of Ukraine's recovery

On 30 June 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (EEST), the Ukraine Crisis Media Center (2 Khreshchatyk Street, Kyiv, Ukraine) will host the discussion "The EU Could Close Its Doors: Why Environmental Assessment Procedures Have Become a Cornerstone of Ukraine's Recovery After URC." The event can be attended both in person and online. Participants may join via Zoom using the provided link. Simultaneous interpretation in Ukrainian and English will be available throughout the event. Civil society organizations that developed the White Paper on Improving Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedures invite you to the presentation of the White Paper and an expert discussion. Following the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, the discussion on how to ensure the country’s rapid, yet safe and sustainable, reconstruction is becoming increasingly relevant. In this context, environmental impact assessments (EIA) and strategic environmental assessments (SEA) are among the key tools for protecting the health and well-being of citizens, conserving the natural resources on which the economy depends, and establishing transparent and predictable rules of the game for business. The proper application of these procedures not only contributes to improving the quality of environmental decisions but will also strengthen the investment attractiveness of projects, reduce risks for investors and the state, and help avoid significant social, environmental, and economic costs in the future. During the event, participants will discuss: • why the right to a safe and healthy environment is a constitutional right of Ukrainian citizens and cannot be postponed until after reconstruction; • what message the European Union and international partners are sending to Ukraine regarding environmental standards and the quality of recovery; • why international financial institutions and investors require transparent environmental procedures and clear rules of the game; • how attempts to circumvent EIA and SEA procedures can lead to litigation, project delays, reputational risks, and a deterioration of the investment climate; • why public participation is an effective mechanism for preventing conflicts and enhancing the resilience of recovery projects. Participants: Yaroslav Teleshun (Moderator), Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF-Ukraine. Yuliia Ovchynnykova, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and Chair of the Subcommittee on Forest Resources, Wildlife, Natural Landscapes and Protected Areas of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, will speak about the European dimension of environmental assessment and environmental standards on Ukraine's path towards EU membership. Marcella McAndrew, International Relations Officer at the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission, will discuss environmental assessment as an integral component of the European model of recovery and reconstruction. Petro Tiestov, representative of the NGO Teren, will provide practical examples of cases resulting from the circumvention of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedures and discuss their implications for environmental governance and conservation policy. Yurii Zadorozhnyi, Public Policy Expert at EcoClub, will address the role of public participation and civic oversight as prerequisites for sustainable recovery. Olha Melen-Zabranna, Head of the Legal Department at Environment-People-Law (EPL), will outline the institutional challenges and legal mechanisms necessary to ensure effective environmental assessment in Ukraine.