Ukraine granted official observer status in Sevilla process

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Ukraine has been invited to join the Sevilla process and granted official observer status, in line with Article 13 of the European Union's Directive 2010/75/EU (Industrial Emissions Directive), Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ministry's statement.

Before Ukraine joins the EU, it has been granted official observer status. After joining the EU, it will have the right to vote "so that Ukrainian realities in which our industry operates should be taken into consideration in developing the Best Available Techniques (BAT)," it said.

"We welcome Ukraine as an observer under the Industrial Emissions Directive. Over the past 20 years, we have worked with researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and government officials using scientific methods. We should work together. The Sevilla process is like a boat where all row in the right direction," Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director of Fair and Sustainable Economy (Directorate B) of the Joint Research Center (JRS), said in commenting on the decision.

Ukrainian Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Minister Ruslan Strelets described it as an important step that "will enable Ukraine to build a high-quality national policy of industrial pollution prevention and control."

"This is a political step for us, which would open up technical opportunities for Ukrainian specialists already now to share experiences and best practices in implementing EU Directive 75, study procedures for drawing up BAT, and implement an integrated permit system," he said.