On February 22, 2017, the Ministry of Environment hosted the working meeting regarding creation of a unified electronic system of access to information on permits, reports, inspection materials in the field of environmental protection, which is a priority anti-corruption measures of the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine for implementation of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 803-p of October 5, 2016. The Resolution is entitled “Some issues of prevention of corruption in ministries and other central executive authorities” and is part of government-public initiative “Together against corruption” initiated by the Reanimation Package of Reforms initiative.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” and experts of Reanimation Package of Reforms Initiative.
The Ministry of Environment proposed the functional structure of the future electronic system.
The Ministry of Environment and International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” have already developed some components of the electronic system, in particular those relating to electronic submission of declarations on waste, licenses on hazardous waste management, detection of unauthorized dumps, statistical reports, requirements of the Protocol on Pollution Release and Transfer Register.
To avoid corruption risks in the field of environmental protection, it is necessary to introduce the system of electronic submission of permits and ensure openness and transparency in tracking further decisions of the Ministry of Environment, Departments of Environment and Natural Resources at regional state administrations and other competent authorities in the field of environmental protection.
The meeting resulted in the decision about the need for the Ministry of Environment and Reanimation Package of Reforms to develop a joint concept of a unified electronic system of environmental information in order to counter corruption risks. By February 28, experts of the Reanimation Package of Reforms initiative will prepare a draft of such a concept and submit it to the Ministry of Environment.
Reanimation Package of Reforms and the public welcome the openness of the Ministry of Environment for cooperation. Only working together the Ministry of Environment, the public and the expert community will be able to solve the problems associated with corruption risks in the field of environmental protection.
