Ukraine's progress towards EU membership depends on aligning its environmental legislation, institutions, and governance with the EU acquis. APENA 4 supports this process by assisting the Ministry of Economy and Environment and its partner institutions in implementing reforms under Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate.

The project provides technical assistance for approximating Ukrainian legislation with EU environmental law across key sectors, including air quality, water, waste and circular economy, industrial pollution, permitting, chemicals, and nature protection. It also strengthens the institutional capacity of authorities responsible for policy development, reform coordination, implementation, and compliance.

In parallel, APENA 4 supports modern environmental governance by improving monitoring, compliance assurance, and enforcement in line with EU best practices. It also promotes transparency, public access to environmental information, and stakeholder participation in decision-making, in line with European principles of good governance.

Through legislative approximation, institutional strengthening, and public engagement, APENA 4 contributes to Ukraine's green recovery, sustainable development, and integration into the European Union.

The project supports Ukraine's alignment with Chapter 27 of the EU Acquis on Environment, strengthening legislation, institutions, and monitoring systems to advance a sustainable, resource-efficient, climate-resilient economy consistent with the European Green Deal. It contributes to Ukraine's EU accession preparedness and to measurable progress in environmental quality, compliance, and public accountability.

Specific objectives:
1. Enhance environmental legislation in line with Chapter 27 of the EU Acquis, transposing EU Directives and Regulations on air quality, water, waste, industrial pollution, chemicals, and nature protection.
2. Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Economy and Environment and subordinate agencies for policy formulation, implementation, and enforcement.
3. Modernise compliance monitoring and inspection systems, reinforcing inter-ministerial coordination and technical capacity at central and regional levels.
4. Improve public access to environmental information and strengthen transparency, in line with Aarhus Convention principles.
5. Raise public awareness and ownership of environmental reforms, promoting citizen participation in environmental decision-making and communication of Ukraine's EU integration progress.

1. Ukrainian environmental legislation further aligned with the EU acquis in the areas of air quality, water management, waste and circular economy, industrial pollution, chemicals, and nature protection, supporting progress in Chapter 27 accession negotiations.
2. Institutional capacity of the Ministry of Economy and Environment and its subordinate agencies strengthened to develop environmental policies, coordinate reforms, and effectively implement and enforce EU environmental legislation.
3. Environmental monitoring, compliance assurance, and inspection systems enhanced in line with EU principles and best practices, contributing to more effective environmental governance.
4. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) frameworks strengthened, ensuring the integration of environmental safeguards into recovery, reconstruction, and development planning.
5. Public awareness, transparency, and stakeholder participation in environmental decision-making improved through strategic communication, increased access to environmental information, and enhanced visibility of EU-supported environmental reforms.