Adaptation of the Ukrainian legislation to EU standards in the field of environment and climate: a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management was held

Further directions for improving and adapting national legislation during the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU under Chapter 27 "Environment and Climate Change".

This issue was addressed at a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management held on April 8.

Opening a meeting, the Committee Chair Oleh Bondarenko emphasised that Chapter 27 "Environment and Climate Change" is one of the most difficult in terms of harmonising our legislation with EU legislation, both in terms of implementation and achieving benchmarks - the key reference points defined by the European Commission for the successful conclusion of negotiations.

According to him, thanks to close cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Government and executive authorities, Ukraine has already laid a foundation for the EU acquis implementation. However, a significant amount of work remains, which is a prerequisite for our full integration into the EU.

At the Committee meeting, reports were delivered by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Taras Kachka, and by the Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, Oleskii Sobolev.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka presented the main obligations within the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU in the field of environment and climate change.

It was noted that Ukraine had met the main interim and final conditions for the closure of all negotiation clusters. The European integration process entails a significant number of legislative changes; therefore, effective coordination between the executive and legislative branches is a prerequisite for the timely adoption of decisions and the proper fulfilment of Ukraine’s obligations on the path to EU membership.

To ensure Ukraine’s full membership of the EU, the National Programme for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to the Law of the European Union (EU acquis) has been developed. This programme is the sole strategic document for the clear planning and monitoring of the achievement of full compliance of Ukraine’s legal system with the requirements imposed on Member States of the European Union.

The document provides for the implementation of 1,717 EU legal acts. It is anticipated that around 300 Ukrainian laws will be drafted. The components of the National Adaptation Programme are the transformation documents approved by Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1460-r of 17 December 2025 “Certain issues regarding the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union under Cluster 4 ‘Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity’ and action plans for implementing the European Commission’s recommendations, as set out in the reports on Ukraine’s progress within the framework of the European Union Enlargement Package.

Under Negotiation Chapter 27 “Environment and Climate Change” of Cluster 4 “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity”, 11 benchmarks have been identified. Their implementation will be subject to particular scrutiny by the European side.

Benchmarks provide for legislative alignment (implementation-related) and strengthening of administrative capacity (institutional). These benchmarks cover all areas of environmental policy and natural resource management, in particular legislation in the fields of environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment, liability for environmental damage and environmental crimes, air quality, waste management, water resources, nature protection, industrial emissions and pollution prevention, chemicals, noise and civil protection, as well as climate, emissions trading, and the institutional capacity of administrative authorities at all levels.

In his speech, the Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Oleksii Sobolev elaborated on the tasks defined by the European Commission during the information session with the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) regarding the practical implementation of the key benchmarks provided to Ukraine under negotiation Cluster 4 “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity”.

In his report, the Minister outlined the interconnection of each benchmark with the provisions of the National Programme for the Adaptation of the Legislation of Ukraine to the Law of the European Union (EU acquis), approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 438 of 1 April 2026, as well as the relevant objectives, tasks, timelines and responsible authorities.

During the Committee meeting, the 11 accession conditions for Ukraine under Chapter 27 “Environment and Climate Change” were discussed.

Speakers and heads of central executive authorities provided answers to questions from Committee Chair Oleh Bondarenko, Deputy Chair Olena Kryvoruchkina, Members of Parliament — Committee members Yuliia Ovchynnykova, Eduard Proshchuk, Serhii Mahera, Anzhelika Labunska, as well as representatives of national civil society organisations and associations.

The video recording of the Committee meeting is available at the link.