Sixth session outcome

During the sixth session of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chornobyl Catastrophe, a number of retreats, sessions, working meetings took place.

On February 08, the First Vice-Chairman of the Committee Anatoliy Drive, the Director of the Nuclear Safety Department of the EBRD Vins Novak and the representative of the Chornobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account in Ukraine Oleksandr Slavis held a working meeting to discuss a number of issues regarding the status of implementation of international projects at the site of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Vince Novak provided information on a number of the G-7 summits scheduled for this year, in terms of which it is planned to discuss the status of implementation of international projects at the site of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. EBRD representatives noted that 2016 was remarkable for Chernobyl projects and it provides the basis for fruitful cooperation between the EBRD and Ukraine in 2017.

The participants of the working meeting discussed the issues of the completion of work in accordance with the schedules of contracts for the international projects for the construction of a new safe confinement, a spent nuclear fuel storage facility, a liquid radioactive waste processing plant and an industrial complex for solid radioactive waste management. Special attention was also given to the necessity of providing financing from the State Budget of Ukraine for the operation of mentioned facilities from 2018.

The EBRD representatives highly appreciated the progress of the Ukrainian side in full realization of Ukraine's contribution to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund by the end of 2017, which is planned to be implemented through the redistribution of savings within the framework of the budget programs of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine. The participants of the working meeting emphasized on the necessity of developing additional "emergency" decisions on ensuring the reception of long-term storage of high-explosive radwaste.

On February 9, the First Vice-Chairman of the Committee Anatoliy Diriv with the representatives of the World Bank on the Environment and Natural Resources Mrs. Valery Hikay and Mr. Andrew Mitchell held the meeting to discuss the issues on the forest sector and the possibilities for the cooperation in this area. During the meeting, issues related to preservation, use, reproduction of forests, a temporary ban on the export of unprocessed timber and the reform of the forest industry were discussed.

The World Bank representatives informed that the World Bank is ready to provide expert support in decision-making process regarding the forest sector, including their experience and the vision of the essence of sector reform, expert assessment of important legislative changes in the wider context of reforms of Ukraine, and will facilitate technical and financial support to state accounting of forests and also will help in formation of expert and public position of foresty reform programme.

At the invitation of Saber H. Chowdhury, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Peter Thompson, the Chairman of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, representatives of the Committee headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee Anatoliy Diriv and Head of the Subcommittee on the Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster Yaroslav Moskalenko took part in the Parliamentary Hearings on 13-14 February 2017 which were held at the headquarters of the United Nations. The issues on the agenda of these hearings were devoted to the achievement of the goals of sustainable development as regards the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources.

During the discussion, it was stressed that the threat of depletion and degradation of the natural resources of the planet on the whole and oceans and seas, in particular, excessive exploitation of these resources, loss of biodiversity and the threat of loss of entire species, pollution and marine debris and oceans are directly related to human activity.

Participants noted that for the sake of preserving the environment, the international community should look for ways of non-exhaustive, balanced use of the oceans and marine environment taking into account the ecological, economic and social interests of humanity. It was also emphasized that the main problems on which the major efforts of the international community and in particular Ukraine should be focused are the reduction of inputs of pollutants, garbage, especially from coastal areas and river flow, prevention of pollution from maritime transport, waste disposal, etc.

Participants in the Parliamentary Hearings offered the ways to preserve fish stocks, other marine and ocean resources and to protect coastal and marine environment. It was emphasized on the need to reform and balance the sphere of consumption and production related to the use of oceans and marine resources.

Representatives of the Committee during the Parliamentary Hearings at the United Nations assured their international colleagues that Ukraine supports the efforts of the international community to preserve the natural environment, in particular seas.

Thus, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine concerning Implementation of Integrated Approaches to Water Management by Basin Principle" was adopted. Its implementation will allow it to reduce inputs of pollutants, as well as in the marine environment, through the transition to a basin management principle. There is a number of laws developed which will reduce the negative impact on the environment, in particular, in accordance with the proposals of the President of Ukraine the Law of Ukraine "On Environmental Impact Assessment" is in its preparation, the draft Law of Ukraine on Strategic Environmental Assessment is being finalized.

At present, at issue is the implementation of certain provisions of Directive № 2008/56 / EU on establishing a framework for the Community in the field of environmental policy relating to the marine environment: developing a maritime strategy with the EU Member States, in particular carrying out a basic assessment of marine waters, defining the ecological situation and setting environmental objectives and indicators.

On april 10, the chairman of the subcommittee Dziublyk P. V., people's deputies of Ukraine Areshonkov V.Yu., Marchenko O.О., Korchik V.A., representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, All-Ukrainian Chornobyl Union of Ukraine visited the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine to see the state of provision of specialized medical assistance to the victims of the Chornobyl disaster and held a working meeting.

During the workshop, a number of issues were discussed in the NNTsRM on the provision of medical assistance to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster due to lack of funding, namely:

-outdated diagnostic equipment (last state purchases in 2000);

-lack of magnetic resonance and computer tomographs, modern ultrasound and endoscopic equipment, laboratory diagnostic equipment;

-lack of funds for the purchase of expensive reagents and consumables;

-dispersion of funds of the state program "Integrated health care and treatment of ontological diseases with the use of high-value medical technologies for citizens who suffered through to the Chernobyl disaster";

-lack of funds for the purchase of medicines, reagents, disinfectants, etc. (35% of the need);

-lack of funds for heating, electricity, water supply, other utility needs (40% of the need);

-provided for patients food is about UAH 6.42 per day;

-lack of funds for the current and overhaul repairs.

It was noted that due to the appeal of public Chornobyl organizations, on March 22, 2017 at the meeting of the Committee on environmental policy, nature management and liquidation of the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster with the participation of representatives of executive authorities and profile organizations, there was an issue discussed concerning financing the State institution "National Research Center for Radiation Medicine ", which resulted a decision with recommendations to the authorities.

Field meeting of the working group of the Committee on Environmental Impact of the Thermal Power Plant on the environment (July 10, 2017, Ukrainka, Obukhiv district, Kyiv region) with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, the State Ecological Inspection of Ukraine, State Property Fund of Ukraine, Ukrainian City Council of Obukhiv district of Kyiv region, Public Joint-Stock Company Centrenergo, Trypilian TPS Public Joint-Stock Company “Centrenergo”.

The working group considered the problematic issues of the Trypilian TPS and the ecological situation of the region affected by its functioning. Trypilian TPS is a strategic power supply company that largely supplies the needs of the capital region. At present, at issue is reduction of the harmful effects on the environment of this powerful energy plant built half a century ago.