Ruslan Stefanchuk: We will work out all the necessary directions for Ukraine on the way to full EU membership
24 June 2022, 15:40
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, met with the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine expressed gratitude for solidarity and personal support and stressed that Ukraine has embarked on the path of full membership in the EU, gaining EU candidate status. That is why an important block of environmental issues is on the agenda.
"The war unleashed by the russian federation in Ukraine threatens the natural environment. In the first days, russian missiles flew over nuclear power plants in Ukraine: the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was captured, and the Zaporizhzhia and South Ukrainian nuclear power plants were destroyed. All this creates danger and shows russia's irresponsibility in this area," said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized that Ukraine wants to get a clear list of what the Parliament should do as a legislative branch of government to obtain a further roadmap on legislation. On June 20, the people's deputies of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts on Forest Conservation" – "a fundamental document that promotes Ukraine's European integration."
In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk raised the issue of the global food crisis, the need to unblock Ukrainian ports, support Ukraine's membership in the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region and exclude russia from the aggressor state from international organizations dealing with issues, including the Black Sea region.
For his part, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries noted that Ukraine can count on full support: “We are in constant contact with the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Environmental Management on the current issues and plans for the future."
Virginijus Sinkevicius stressed that such meetings and discussions should signal colleagues to expand cooperation and build fundamental cooperation in real projects.
"We are aware of everything, and we see the situation adequately. We will work out all the necessary directions that Ukraine needs on the way to full membership in the EU," Ruslan Stefanchuk said at the end and thanked for the invitation for Ukraine to join the EU climate and environmental program "LIFE".