The event was headed by Chairperson of the Committee Mykola Tomenko.
The participants in the hearings noted that recently the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ruled to reject the report of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and declared the activity of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine unsatisfactory, in particular, that touched the implementation of the environmental policy of the Ukrainian Government. In compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine, environmental protection and maintenance of environmental balance in Ukraine, dampening of consequences of the Chornobyl NPP disaster, protection of the generation pool of the Ukrainian people are the duty of the state. The said situation does not encourage the implementation of the obligations within the framework of international agreements, Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
At that the Action plan of the Ukrainian Government does not contain respective chapter that would envision trends of activity in environment and environmental protection sectors, social protection of citizens-victims of the Chornobyl NPP disaster. Putting the issue of environmental policy aside from the list of priorities of the Ukrainian Government is not in line with internal interests of the country and its the population, as well as it does not meet the Coalition Agreement, which contains provisions touching the reformation of the environment management system and integration of the environmental policy with other sector-oriented policies aiming to ensure the conditions for development of healthy nation and strong state.
Chairperson of the Committee Mykola Tomenko supported proposals of experts advocating the necessity for obligatory presentation of action plan by future environment ministry candidates at meetings of relevant Committee with the participation of the public and scientists.
Summarizing the meeting, Mykola Tomenko noted the importance of the findings of relevant governmental structures, scientific institutions, experts, and the public in the process of lawmaking aimed at elaboration of high-quality legislative acts lying in competence of the Committee.
At the earliest possible time, the Committee plans to consider the proposals submitted by participants in the hearings touching priorities of Government's activity in environmental and environmental protection fields for 2016, and take respective decision.