Will we be able to preserve the species richness of flora and fauna: Ukraine proposes to improve the procedure for environmental impact assessment

Having made the European choice in 2014, we agreed to share values ​​and standards to achieve a European quality of life.

In accordance with the provisions of Directive 2011/92 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment where the need for an environmental impact assessment of a planned activity arises simultaneously from the provisions of this Directive and Directive 92/43 / EEC and № 2009/147 / EC, a coordinated and / or uniform environmental impact assessment procedure for such planned activities should be provided.

Taking into account this approach, the draft law “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine“ On Environmental Impact Assessment” to Improve the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure” proposes to regulate the peculiarities of impact assessment on the Emerald Network, if the planned activity involves environmental impact assessment , will be held on the territory of the Emerald Network. In addition, the draft law will promote legal certainty and eliminate unnecessary regulatory procedures in the environmental impact assessment of planned activities.

What changes does this bill provide for:

• It is proposed to fully implement the provisions of Article 6 of Directive № 92/43 / EEC as regards the assessment of the impact on the Emerald Network of planned activities carried out in the public interest, in particular social and economic ones.
• it is envisaged to regulate the procedure for issuing an opinion, which determines the admissibility of the planned activities, which are carried out on the grounds of public necessity, despite the established negative impact on the territory of the Emerald Network.
• transition to exclusively electronic document management in the process of carrying out procedures within the EIA
• introduction of the procedure of preliminary analysis by the authorized body of the EIA report on the environment
• definition at the level of the law of clear grounds for issuing an opinion on the environmental impact assessment, which clarifies the inadmissibility of the planned activities, as well as the grounds for refusing to issue an opinion on the environmental impact assessment.

We must take care of what kind of water we will drink and what kind of air we will breathe and whether we will be able to preserve the species richness of flora and fauna that we have today in Ukraine. The adoption of this bill will establish the foundations of our country’s existence for many years to come and balance the interests of preserving the territories of the Emerald Network and their development.

With care for the environment,
Director of Center LTD
Oleg Bota