Ukraine–Austria memoranda on energy and environmental protection signed

Several memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy and environmental protection were signed in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen in Kyiv.

“In particular, Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko and Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria Leonore Gewessler signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a partnership in the field of energy transition and renewable energy sources,” the President’s Office informs.

The signing of the Memorandum will lay the basis for in-depth cooperation between the countries in the format of energy partnership.

The document provides for the exchange of best practices in the energy transition (energy system planning, state support schemes, etc.); introduction of innovative technologies in the field of renewable energy sources; demand management and development of distributed generation; acceleration of the deployment and use of renewable hydrogen, etc.

The Memorandum also provides for the possibility of establishing a joint working group, in particular to address organizational issues and plan further cooperation.

In addition, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets and Leonore Gewessler signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of environmental protection.

The document will create favorable conditions for the development and establishment of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Austria in the environmental field, taking into account the current challenges caused by armed conflicts that have devastating consequences for the environment, ecosystems and human health.

The Memorandum will serve as an impetus to draw attention to environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources, which will allow expanding and strengthening relations between the two countries to curb and mitigate environmental impact, taking into account the need for timely response to armed conflicts and recovery from them.

This is another step in the implementation of the EU acquis and Ukraine's movement towards EU membership.

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