Home >
All publications
International activity
14 September 2020, 07:11
Ukraine's engagement in the European Green Deal is an issue of security of every Ukrainian
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's
Integration into the EU, stated this Friday, September 11 at the
discussion of the European Green Deal, organized by the Committee.
The European Green Deal is the EU's strategy to transform Europe by 2050 into the first climate-neutral continent with a sustainable economy, carbon free and independent of fossil resources. Ukraine has declared its interest in participating in this process. The Chair of the Committee noted that the members of the Ukrainian Parliament had to be involved in the process of the Green Deal implementation in Ukraine. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze also noted that many measures in this process would be a challenge for Ukraine, but to postpone their implementation was irresponsible. “We are interested in the security of our citizens, and joining the European Green Deal is not a requirement of Europe, it is about internal reforms and security of every Ukrainian”, - Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said. She also stressed the importance for the Government to demonstrate a Roadmap for Ukraine and the EU to move together towards the set goals.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna assured that a Roadmap for Ukraine’s participation in the Green Deal is underway. Olha Stefanishyna informed that the working group had prepared a document outlining Ukraine’s engagement in the European Green Deal a month ago. She is also convinced that Ukraine’s engagement in the Green Deal is a bilateral process in which Ukraine has to share the European Union’s ambitious agenda, and the European Union shall take into account its obligations under the Association Agreement when forming policies under the European Green Deal.
MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel is convinced that Ukraine's engagement in the European Green Deal is a good opportunity to reform the main areas of Ukraine’s economy, as well as to guarantee its energy independence. “For Ukraine, the Green Deal is not as much about the climate as it is about the country's energy security, your sovereignty and autonomy”, - Viola von Cramon-Taubadel said. She also added that engagement in the Green Deal was an opportunity to set Ukrainian energy free from oligarchs and bring innovation into the country.
Matti Maasikas, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stated that the European Green Deal was a strategy and a key priority of the EU. “The fact that Ukraine has expressed an interest to join the implementation of the Green Deal demonstrates that Ukrainian politicians, society and business are aware of the importance of the transformations provided by the Green Deal”, - Matti Maasikas said. He also added that Ukraine and the EU were already working together in the field of energy efficiency, in particular, implementing the “Energodim” program, which aimed to modernize the old condos, to improve their energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. At the same time, the EU Ambassador expressed concern over some legislative initiatives in the Verkhovna Rada, such as the draft law No. 2458 on housing and utility services. According to the Head of the EU Delegation, this draft law might jeopardize further implementation of the “Energodim” program (draft law No. 2458 was also criticized by the PROOSBB community as trying to roll back most housing reforms, implemented in Ukraine over the past years).
Matti Maasikas also announced the EU assistance program to Ukraine in implementing the changes under the European Green Deal. The budget of this program is 10 million euros. These funds will be used to achieve goals and overcome challenges in the process of Ukraine's transformation.
Janez Kopac, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, noted that the budget for the implementation of the Green Deal requirements could be the biggest challenge for Ukraine. However, according to Mr. Kopac, international partners will support Ukraine in this process, and Ukraine itself has the opportunity to accumulate funds by reviewing its carbon tax policy. According to Mr. Kopac, Ukraine has an extremely low “carbon tax” rate — 10 hryvnias per ton, while in Europe it is 25 euros per ton of CO2 emissions. According to Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, only the owners of large enterprises in Ukraine benefit from this, and this practice should be eliminated. Kopac believes that introducing by Ukraine of a proper carbon tax will help to provide for required budget base for implementation of the measures under the Green Deal.
MPs, heads and deputy ministries, representatives of civil society, business and experts also took part in the Committee’s discussion of the European Green Deal.
Olena Pavlenko, President of the DIXI group noted that the EU has already developed 10 strategies for the implementation of the Green Deal goals. She called Ukrainian Government to examine these strategies, which would make Ukraine's cooperation with the EU in this area meaningful rather than general.
Summing up the discussion, the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU also noted that Ukraine today had a problem of not fully utilizing loan and financial opportunities, including non-refundable assistance from the European Union. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze proposed to submit a request from the Committee to the Government regarding the use of the EU assistance, in particular in the field of energy.
Based on the results of the discussion, the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU will prepare, publish and submit to the Government recommendations on the implementation of Ukraine's measures under the European Green Deal. The record of the live broadcast of the discussion is available at https://www.facebook.com/uaenergy/videos/363233704833973.
The European Green Deal is the EU's strategy to transform Europe by 2050 into the first climate-neutral continent with a sustainable economy, carbon free and independent of fossil resources. Ukraine has declared its interest in participating in this process. The Chair of the Committee noted that the members of the Ukrainian Parliament had to be involved in the process of the Green Deal implementation in Ukraine. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze also noted that many measures in this process would be a challenge for Ukraine, but to postpone their implementation was irresponsible. “We are interested in the security of our citizens, and joining the European Green Deal is not a requirement of Europe, it is about internal reforms and security of every Ukrainian”, - Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said. She also stressed the importance for the Government to demonstrate a Roadmap for Ukraine and the EU to move together towards the set goals.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna assured that a Roadmap for Ukraine’s participation in the Green Deal is underway. Olha Stefanishyna informed that the working group had prepared a document outlining Ukraine’s engagement in the European Green Deal a month ago. She is also convinced that Ukraine’s engagement in the Green Deal is a bilateral process in which Ukraine has to share the European Union’s ambitious agenda, and the European Union shall take into account its obligations under the Association Agreement when forming policies under the European Green Deal.
MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel is convinced that Ukraine's engagement in the European Green Deal is a good opportunity to reform the main areas of Ukraine’s economy, as well as to guarantee its energy independence. “For Ukraine, the Green Deal is not as much about the climate as it is about the country's energy security, your sovereignty and autonomy”, - Viola von Cramon-Taubadel said. She also added that engagement in the Green Deal was an opportunity to set Ukrainian energy free from oligarchs and bring innovation into the country.
Matti Maasikas, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stated that the European Green Deal was a strategy and a key priority of the EU. “The fact that Ukraine has expressed an interest to join the implementation of the Green Deal demonstrates that Ukrainian politicians, society and business are aware of the importance of the transformations provided by the Green Deal”, - Matti Maasikas said. He also added that Ukraine and the EU were already working together in the field of energy efficiency, in particular, implementing the “Energodim” program, which aimed to modernize the old condos, to improve their energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. At the same time, the EU Ambassador expressed concern over some legislative initiatives in the Verkhovna Rada, such as the draft law No. 2458 on housing and utility services. According to the Head of the EU Delegation, this draft law might jeopardize further implementation of the “Energodim” program (draft law No. 2458 was also criticized by the PROOSBB community as trying to roll back most housing reforms, implemented in Ukraine over the past years).
Matti Maasikas also announced the EU assistance program to Ukraine in implementing the changes under the European Green Deal. The budget of this program is 10 million euros. These funds will be used to achieve goals and overcome challenges in the process of Ukraine's transformation.
Janez Kopac, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, noted that the budget for the implementation of the Green Deal requirements could be the biggest challenge for Ukraine. However, according to Mr. Kopac, international partners will support Ukraine in this process, and Ukraine itself has the opportunity to accumulate funds by reviewing its carbon tax policy. According to Mr. Kopac, Ukraine has an extremely low “carbon tax” rate — 10 hryvnias per ton, while in Europe it is 25 euros per ton of CO2 emissions. According to Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, only the owners of large enterprises in Ukraine benefit from this, and this practice should be eliminated. Kopac believes that introducing by Ukraine of a proper carbon tax will help to provide for required budget base for implementation of the measures under the Green Deal.
MPs, heads and deputy ministries, representatives of civil society, business and experts also took part in the Committee’s discussion of the European Green Deal.
Olena Pavlenko, President of the DIXI group noted that the EU has already developed 10 strategies for the implementation of the Green Deal goals. She called Ukrainian Government to examine these strategies, which would make Ukraine's cooperation with the EU in this area meaningful rather than general.
Summing up the discussion, the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU also noted that Ukraine today had a problem of not fully utilizing loan and financial opportunities, including non-refundable assistance from the European Union. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze proposed to submit a request from the Committee to the Government regarding the use of the EU assistance, in particular in the field of energy.
Based on the results of the discussion, the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU will prepare, publish and submit to the Government recommendations on the implementation of Ukraine's measures under the European Green Deal. The record of the live broadcast of the discussion is available at https://www.facebook.com/uaenergy/videos/363233704833973.