Ukraine has joined the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) as a partner country. This opens new opportunities for developing environmental monitoring systems, managing environmental data, and implementing European standards in environmental and climate policy. The status was approved by the EEA Management Board on June 18.
Granting Ukraine partner-country status is an important step toward European integration and preparation for EU membership. Cooperation with the EEA and Eionet will help strengthen institutional capacity, develop modern environmental information systems, and support Ukraine in meeting its obligations within the EU accession negotiation process.
“Today is an important day for Ukraine. We are pleased to join the European Environment Agency and the Eionet network as a partner country and become part of the European environmental community. This comes at a particularly important moment as Ukraine moves forward in EU accession negotiations and continues its European integration path with confidence. Despite the enormous challenges caused by ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine continues to implement environmental reforms and strengthen its institutions. Cooperation with the EEA will help us improve environmental monitoring and information systems, implement EU environmental legislation, and deepen Ukraine’s integration into the European space. We are grateful to the European Commission, the EEA, and member states for their trust, solidarity, and continued support,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Oleksii Sobolev.
Ukraine has become the eighth partner country of the EEA and Eionet, joining the Republic of Moldova and Western Balkan countries. The EEA network now brings together 32 member countries and 8 partner countries across Europe.
“The path of Ukraine’s European integration is one of the strongest demonstrations of European values in recent years. Ukraine’s accession to the EEA/Eionet family is a recognition of this commitment and a practical investment in the environmental resilience of the entire continent. Now that the EU has taken an important step forward and officially opened accession negotiations with Ukraine, there is still much work ahead, especially given the country’s limited resources due to the ongoing war. Timely preparation, resource sharing, closer cooperation, and integration into existing processes are important steps forward. I am convinced that cooperation with the EEA will continue to support data-driven decision-making and strengthen institutional capacity. A country that continues to align with EU environmental standards even in wartime deserves our full support,” said European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall.
“We are very pleased to welcome Ukraine as a partner country of the European Environment Agency. Environmental challenges know no borders, so cooperation is essential to address them effectively. We already work closely with Ukrainian colleagues within the Energy Community and previous regional projects and look forward to further developing this cooperation. The environmental damage caused by the war is a concern for all of Europe, and joint work in monitoring, data, and assessment will be an important part of our partnership,” noted EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.
Cooperation between Ukraine and the EEA is based on the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and is part of the preparation process for EU membership. It provides for Ukraine’s gradual integration into the Agency’s systems, networks, and platforms, the development of national capacities in environmental data collection, analysis, and exchange, and alignment with European approaches to environmental governance.
Special attention will be given to developing state environmental monitoring systems, environmental reporting, data management, and information exchange in line with European standards. This will also help prepare Ukraine to meet the requirements of Chapter 27 “Environment and Climate Change” in the EU accession negotiations.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an EU agency that provides independent environmental information for policymaking and decision-making in environmental matters.
The European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) brings together EEA member and partner countries to collect, analyze, and exchange environmental information. The network includes 32 member countries and 8 partner countries.
