The European Union and the Eastern partner countries strengthen their cooperation on environment, circular economy and climate action

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a framework of cooperation between the EU and the six countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Support in the field of environment and climate change to the Eastern Partner countries is of strategic importance for the EU to achieve objectives inside the EU and to improve the quality of life of the citizens in partner countries. The Eastern Partnership Summit on 24 November 2017 reiterated high-level political support to a transition towards greener and more sustainable economies, enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, and addressing environmental challenges. Specific objectives and targets are presented in the document "20 Deliverables for 2020".

Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: "The year 2018 is a very important year for climate action. At the international climate conference in Poland in December, we will have to operationalise the Paris Agreement on Climate change by agreeing on the rules necessary for setting it in motion. The international community will also need to take bold steps of increasing ambition to close the remaining gap to reach the goals agreed in Paris. Today's meeting has helped the EU and its Eastern Partners to join forces in this challenge."  

Elisabeth Köstinger, Austrian Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism said: “We had a good and constructive second joint ministerial meeting. Great progress has been made in the Eastern Partner countries since the last joint meeting in 2016. Nevertheless, transboundary environmental and climate challenges need further common attention to align economic development with the strengthening of environmental standards. We are looking forward to further cooperate with the Eastern Partners.”

The ministers acknowledged progress made since 2016, in particular in relation to the ratification of the Paris Agreement and policy and legislative changes on water, the green economy, and on environmental assessments. They also welcomed broad stakeholder involvement in addressing key environmental concerns, focussing in particular on the challenges, and opportunities, associated with a transition to a circular economy and sustainable waste management.. The Ministers reaffirmed the need to keep environment and climate action high on political and economic agendas.

Further EU support to Eastern Partner countries to modernise the economy with a focus on action on the environment, circular economy and climate to reduce emissions will be provided through the new EU-funded programmes 'EU4Environment' and 'EU4Climate'. The EU4Environment programme (with €19.5 million in EU funding) aims at helping the Eastern Partner countries to preserve their natural capital and increase people's environmental well-being. The EU4Climate programme (with €8 million in EU funding) is designed to support implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and to improve climate policies and legislation.

More information

Eastern Partnership

Presidency Conclusions of the Second Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Climate Action

Declaration on cooperation on environment and climate change in the Eastern partnership - 2016

Joint Staff Working Document: Eastern Partnership - 20 Deliverables for 2020 Focusing on key priorities and tangible results

Projects on environment and climate

The EU 2030 climate and energy framework

The Budget for the EU: Sustainability, environment protection and fight against climate change

2018 Circular Economy Package