24 Jun 2022 20:18

Ukraine joins EU's LIFE Program with 5.43-bln-euro budget for 2021-2027

MOSCOW. June 24 (Interfax) - Ukraine has signed an agreement with the European Union on joining its LIFE Program, an international funding instrument for the environment and climate action, whose budget on environment protection projects for 2021-2027 amounts to 5.43 billion euros, Ukrainian media have reported with reference to the Environment Protection and Natural Resources Ministry.

Ukrainian Environment Protection Minister Ruslan Strilets and European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius signed the agreement.

"Ukraine has received great support and colossal capabilities from the European Union for restoring not only the environment but also live nature in Ukraine. This is something for which there has always been a lack of funding. LIFE is a powerful financial tool of the participating countries. This means great confidence in Ukraine," Strilets said.

The ministry has over 15 concrete proposals to be transformed into relevant projects to be presented for consideration under LIFE Program, he said.

"This should help us develop more new projects which local businesses could be engaged with. Therefore, we've made a very important step today," Sinkevicius said.

As reported earlier, Strilets said in late May that Ukraine was completing consultations with the European Commission on joining the LIFE Program, which had been launched in 1992, and expected to sign a relevant agreement within several weeks.