Ukraine and Moldova have taken a significant step in environmental cooperation by signing an agreement on the implementation of the Espoo Convention. The agreement was signed by Ukraine's Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ruslan Strelets, and Moldova's Minister of the Environment, Sergio Lazarenko. This move aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in assessing the environmental impacts of projects that may have transboundary effects.
The agreement, as reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection, outlines a clear consultation procedure for both countries to follow when planning projects that could affect the environment across their borders. This proactive approach is intended to prevent environmental disputes, such as the long-standing conflict between Ukraine and Romania over the Danube-Black Sea canal, which took 20 years to resolve.
Minister Strelets emphasized the importance of this agreement, especially in the context of both nations' aspirations for closer ties with the European Union. He noted that the total environmental damage inflicted on Ukraine due to Russia's large-scale aggression has reached $60 billion, not including the recent damages from shelling in Odesa, which also affected Moldova.
This agreement marks a crucial step in ensuring that both Ukraine and Moldova work together to protect their shared environment, while also aligning with European environmental standards as they progress on their paths towards EU integration.
