yesterday at 12:29
,Germany
Activists and some Members of Parliament claim that the government is attempting to bypass current legislation by pushing deregulation of forest logging through a Cabinet of Ministers resolution. This comes after similar changes failed to gain support in the Verkhovna Rada. At the center of the debate is a draft proposal by the Ministry of Economy, which envisages the cancellation of environmental impact assessments (EIA) for clear sanitary logging and the removal of restrictions on planned logging volumes.
Critics of the initiative particularly highlight the phrasing «including», which, in their view, could imply the extension of simplified rules not only to forests damaged by war but effectively to the entire country.
The draft resolution was prepared by the Ministry of Economy. According to assessments by the environmental community, the document proposes to cancel EIA for clear sanitary logging and remove limits on planned logging.
EIA — is a procedure that allows for the assessment of the impact of planned activities on the environment and public health, involving transparency and public input. Its cancellation simplifies decision-making for forest users, but at the same time, according to environmentalists, reduces oversight and safeguards.
Opponents of deregulation emphasize that adopting such changes through a Cabinet resolution appears to be an attempt to bypass parliament, as changes to the rules should be made by the Verkhovna Rada. They believe the government is trying to implement what it previously failed to achieve through legislation.
The discussion is linked to last year’s draft law No. 9516, which did not receive parliamentary support. In the public sphere, these initiatives have been associated with business interests in the Carpathian region — these claims are presented as media assessments rather than established facts.
Environmental organizations also refer to the positions of European institutions, which stress the importance of maintaining environmental impact assessment procedures. Against this backdrop, the cancellation of EIA for certain logging activities, in their words, contradicts European approaches.
Particular concern is raised by the argument that the changes are supposedly related to forest restoration after the war. The draft states that simplifications apply «including» to forests damaged due to Russia’s aggression. Activists believe this phrasing could significantly expand the scope of the new rules.
In such a case, risks also increase for the Carpathians — a region already facing conflicts over infrastructure projects and the preservation of mountainous territories.
Member of Parliament Yuliya Ovchynnykova stated that the government is effectively trying to replace parliament and make decisions contrary to the law and Ukraine’s international obligations. According to her, this could lead to a loss of control over the actual volumes of sanitary logging.
The editorial team has reached out to the Ministry of Economy and the government for comments regarding the accusations and interpretations of the controversial wording.
First Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Vysotskyi reported that discussions with the environmental community are scheduled for January 8. It is expected that key topics will include the preservation or cancellation of EIA, logging limits, and the territorial scope of the changes.
