Ministry of Environment plans reforms in licensing and permits

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine is actively working on deregulation plans to simplify business processes and make life easier for citizens. According to an interview with Ruslan Strilts, head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, for Delo.ua, the ministry plans to cancel 60 out of 140 existing licenses, permits and public services to reduce bureaucratic barriers.

As part of its European integration efforts, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has started developing a deregulation guillotine together with the State Regulatory Service and the USAID Competitive Economy Program. The analysis has already revealed that out of 140 instruments, more than half are redundant, non-functional or duplicate other procedures.

Ruslan Strilets emphasized that among the redundant documents there are those that do not actually affect business or citizens. Approximately 25% of them duplicate environmental impact assessments and no longer correspond to current realities.

A large number of outdated permits are related to the regulation of the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster. The draft law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts Regarding the Regulation of the Functioning of Territories Affected by Radioactive Contamination as a Result of the Chornobyl Disaster" may allow for the abolition of more than 40% of outdated sectoral documents.

The Ministry of Ecology has set its priorities: to get rid of outdated regulatory instruments and retain only those that will actually contribute to environmental protection and meet European standards. The agency plans to digitalize and improve the remaining instruments.

The deregulation reforms are part of a larger strategy to implement EU standards, recycling, and effective licensing of industrial waste.