A unified system of environmental permits for enterprises is being developed in Ukraine, which is to replace separate procedures for atmospheric emissions, special water use and waste management. This issue was the main topic of a roundtable discussion organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine on May 27 in Kyiv.
The event, titled “Reform of Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control: Introduction of Unified Permits,” was attended by MPs, business representatives, government agencies, local governments, experts and international partners. Particular attention was paid to the reform of industrial pollution, which is a necessary condition for Ukraine’s European integration. The new permit system will simplify and standardize procedures for businesses, reduce administrative pressure and provide transparent rules, which will gradually bring Ukraine closer to European environmental standards.
During the roundtable, the participants outlined further steps in the reform, including digitalization and unification of permitting procedures for enterprises that are not subject to Directive 2010/75/EU (Groups 2 and 3), development of an integrated permitting system, adaptation of business to new requirements, and study of international experience in implementing European environmental standards. The Chairman of the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized the importance of high-quality legislative support for these changes for Ukraine's integration into the EU.
Currently, Ukraine already has the Law "On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution", which implements the provisions of Directive 2010/75/EU and introduces an integrated permitting system - one environmental permit instead of three separate procedures. To implement the law, the government has adopted all necessary by-laws: 14 resolutions, one order of the Cabinet of Ministers, and three orders. An IT system for issuing integrated permits has also been developed and tested, which is already operating on the EcoSystem platform.
In addition, 14 reference documents on the best available technologies and management methods (BAT) have already been translated, and agreements have been reached on the translation of other European BAT documents. The Ministry has already received the first application for an integrated environmental permit, which is currently being considered. According to Deputy Minister Oleksandr Krasnolutsky, the next stage of the reform is to unify permitting activities for enterprises of the second and third groups in order to simplify and increase the transparency of the system, while ensuring an appropriate level of environmental control.
For the successful implementation of the reform, it is planned to create an interdepartmental working group that will provide effective feedback between the state, business and the public for timely resolution of practical issues. The event is organized in cooperation with the project "Best Available Technologies and Management Methods (BAT) for Ukraine", which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany within the framework of the International Climate Initiative.
Source: agroreview.com
