International Charity Organisation “Environment-People-Law,” as well as members of UNP WG3, have launched the Initiative “Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in the Context of Green Recovery and European Integration Reforms” within the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2025–2026” implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting with financial support from the European Union.
Objective: To outline the main challenges and solutions regarding access to environmental information and public participation in the context of green recovery and Ukraine’s European integration commitments.
The initiative will conduct research on Ukraine’s progress in fulfilling European integration commitments regarding access to environmental information and public participation in environmentally significant decision-making. The special focus will on access to information and transparency in subsoil extraction and access to production sharing agreements, particularly Ukraine’s government’s implementation of Decision VII/8r of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention concerning Ukraine’s non-compliance with obligations on access to production sharing agreements. According to this decision, Ukraine’s government has specific legislative, regulatory, and administrative obligations, progress on which will be analysed in the document. During preparation for the next Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, taking place 17–21 November 2025 in Geneva, this analysis is particularly relevant and will be used by the applicant organisation for communication with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture regarding steps to be taken, especially considering that Ukraine faces suspension of rights and privileges under the Convention due to non-compliance with the decision.
The initiative plans includes:
The analytical work will include analysis of problematic issues regarding access to environmental information and public participation in environmentally significant decision-making across various sectors, as well as legislative gaps in this area with corresponding recommendations for authorities and the legislative body.
The analytical work will be presented at a public online UNP event at the end of 2025 and submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, the VRU Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, and the Committee on Ukraine’s EU Integration.
An English summary of the analytical work will be sent to the Aarhus Convention Secretariat, the European Commission Representation in Ukraine, and DG Environment.
Based on research results, a statement will be prepared and disseminated on behalf of WG3 “Environment, Climate Change, Energy Security” and WG5 “Energy, Transport, Environment, Climate Change.”
In October 2025, the organisation will hold a press briefing to present the analytical work focusing on the Ukrainian government’s progress in implementing the Aarhus Convention meeting decision.
The organisation’s representative will participate in the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention in Geneva, where she will present an alternative report on implementing Decision VII/8r, based on analysis conducted under the initiative.
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This initiative is implemented within the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2025–2026,” carried out by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting with financial support from the European Union. The content of the research is the sole responsibility of (International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
