New policy priorities in the field of environment

1. New policy priorities in the field of environment
Nataliya Andrusevych

2. Content
Current situation with environmental directives implementation
Main challenges
New perspectives

3. Current situation with environmental directives implementation (1)
Four directives:
Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment
Directive 79/409/EЕC on the conservation of wild birds
Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants
Directive 1999/32/ЕC relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels

4. Current situation with environmental directives implementation (2)
National legislation
Treaty establishing the Energy Community
EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
Environmental aquis

5. Current situation with environmental directives implementation (3)
Timeline
Directive
Energy Community
Association Agreement
Plan of measures
Directive on EIA
January 1, 2013
3 years after coming into effect
August, 2016
Directive on wild birds
January 5, 2015
4 years after coming into effect
December 2017
Directive on pollutants from combustion plants
January 1, 2018
5 years after coming into effect
December 2017
Directive on sulphur
January 1, 2012
6 years after coming into effect
December 2017

6. Current situation with environmental directives implementation (4)
Directive on EIA: draft law “On environmental impact assessment” – registered in the parliament, but not adopted
Directive on wild birds: draft laws “On changes to some legal acts of Ukraine” (on biodiversity protection, and fauna protection) – adopted by the parliaments as the basis
Directive on pollutants from large combustion plants: just secondary legislation (on the form of permits for emissions)
Directive on sulphur: on July 10, 2014 the Technical regulation on requirements to motor petroleum, diesel, marine and boiler fuel came into force. But the first deadline December 31, 2014 (for environmental class Euro 3).

7. Main challenges
No political will
Law drafting doesn’t mean real implementation
Partial implementation of directives is not effective and sometimes impossible
No coordination between relevant state bodies
No clear understanding of the directives’ requirements
Lack of transparency in the implementation process
Lack of comprehensive vision and planning of reforms

8. New perspectives
Possible positive impact of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation – implementation plans for each directive are under development
Window of opportunities after the new government appointment and new parliament starting work
Creation of the Multilateral Working Group on Reforms

9. Thanks for your attention!
Nataliya Andrusevych
Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment”
nataliya.andrusevych@rac.org.ua