Environmental Cooperation of Ukraine with Baltic Countries in Waste Management Projects

Abstract

Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe that has numerous environmental problems due to backward technologies and strong influence of the former totalitarian system. The article seeks to consider the current status of Ukrainian environmental policy and disclosing the idea of “environmental cooperation” with Baltic countries in scope of MSWM. The strategic route of Ukraine towards sustainable society and joining the EU determined the relevance of MSWM as one of the most substantial environmental impacts. Foreign experts note a significant backlog of Ukrainian MSWM compared to EU standards. Engineering studies that are the basis for decision-making authorities are in a very early phase of development. Household landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gases, leading to losses of land and spreading of dangerous compounds to surrounding water flows. The authors are outlining benefits of environmental cooperation to Ukraine and BSR countries at both international and local levels. Examples of donor assistance that Ukraine already obtained from Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway are discussed. Unfortunately, collaboration with Western countries very much depends on the political will of Ukrainian authorities. To the date, Ukraine does not meet a sufficient progress in obtaining the status of an associate EU member in spite of the announced cooperation strategy. In view of this, environmental cooperation at the regional and local level seems to be a key issue for Ukraine on its way towards sustainability and developing principles of democracy and market economy. Strong relations with Baltic countries are creating a good basis for overcoming environmental problems at regional and community level and may form a first pilot model of ecological security.