The EU has offered Ukraine advice on green recovery
Ukraine will have to adapt more than 200 of the European Union’s environmental standards and regulations. The EU acknowledges that this will be one of the most challenging tasks on the path to membership, but believes the country has an opportunity to use it for modernization and reconstruction.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova is convinced that environmental reforms must not only protect the environment but also bring economic benefits. Only then will they be truly effective.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova stated that adapting EU environmental legislation will be one of the most significant challenges for Ukraine in the coming years. She made this remark during the international forum “Environment for Ukraine.”
According to the diplomat, this involves more than 200 EU directives and regulations that will need to be gradually incorporated into Ukrainian law. “This is a massive undertaking,” Mathernova emphasized. At the same time, she believes that Ukraine has every opportunity to accomplish this work if it combines environmental goals with the country’s economic interests.
Maternova noted that it is not easy to convince governments to invest solely for the sake of the environment. In her view, people and politicians are much more likely to support change if they see concrete benefits. “It has to make economic sense. Integrating environmental policy into the economy is the only way to really get things moving,” the diplomat explained. She cited an example from her experience working with Ukraine several years ago.
At that time, the European Commission was actively promoting the idea of improving energy efficiency in buildings. According to Maternova, it was the economic argument that proved decisive. Calculations showed that thanks to modern energy efficiency standards, Ukraine would be able to significantly reduce its dependence on Russian gas. As a result, relevant laws were passed and the Energy Efficiency Fund was established. “Today, the results of this work can be seen throughout the country,” the ambassador noted.
Maternová recalled that her native Slovakia also followed a similar path before joining the European Union. According to her, environmental legislation was the most challenging area of adaptation. “For us, environmental legislation was the most costly, the most complex, and required the longest transition periods,” she said.
The diplomat believes that Ukraine now finds itself in a very similar situation. On the one hand, it is a complex process that will require years of work and significant investment. On the other hand, it is a chance to make the country more modern and safer to live in.
Separately, Maternova drew attention to the environmental consequences of the war. According to her, once hostilities end, Ukraine will face not only the need to rebuild cities, roads, and businesses. Restoring the environment will also be a serious challenge.
The ambassador emphasized that the war has already caused immense damage to nature, water resources, soil, and ecosystems. In her view, this is precisely why post-war reconstruction must take environmental standards into account from the very beginning. “Everyone agrees that we need to rebuild better than it was before,” she said.
During her speech, Maternova also drew attention to another aspect. She noted that some of the enterprises most harmful to the environment were destroyed during the war. At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that she does not consider this a positive aspect of the war. However, this very fact opens up the opportunity to create new industries that meet modern environmental standards. “I don’t want to use the word ‘positive’ when talking about the war. But now there is an opportunity to build a new economy based on green principles,” she said.
According to Maternova, the adaptation of EU environmental legislation will not be completed quickly. It will be a lengthy process requiring cooperation between the state, business, local communities, and international partners. The European Union is already assisting Ukraine through various programs and projects, but the main work is still ahead. “We support these efforts and will continue to do so. But true implementation is a joint task that will take many years,” the EU ambassador concluded.
In her view, if Ukraine can combine post-war reconstruction with modern environmental standards, this will be one of the most important steps toward full membership in the European Union. This was stated by the European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, at the international environmental forum “Environment for Ukraine.”
Bulgaria’s new government intends to halt arms supplies to Ukraine, which may contradict the European Union’s efforts to support Kyiv and increase pressure on Russia.
In Bulgaria, parliament approved a new government led by former President Rumen Radev, which immediately sparked political controversy within the country. The decision was passed by a majority vote, despite criticism from the opposition and a cautious stance from some lawmakers.
