Announcement: Call for Participation in Roundtable

Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
Uzhhorod National University
Ukrainian National Forestry University
Committee on Agrarian, Land and Environmental Law of the Ukrainian National Bar Association
International Charitable Organization “Environment–People–Law”
NGO “Grassroots Institute” (Ukraine)
NGO “Locator–Media”
NGO “SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine”
Carpathian Human Rights Agency “Vested”

Association of Ukrainian Lawyers

International Environmental Academy

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the roundtable discussion
“Environmental Law Civic Platform: Democracy, Rule of Law, and Green Recovery”,
to be held on 24 September 2025 within the framework of the IX Kharkiv International Legal Forum, organized by Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University.

The roundtable will address the most pressing issues in the development of national environmental policy and legislation. The discussion will bring together representatives of civil society, the academic community, state institutions, and international partners around the following key themes:

• Current challenges and prospects for the development of environmental legislation in the context of European integration processes and the implementation of the EU acquis;
• From reforms to effective mechanisms of decentralization: environmental law aspects;
• Optimization of the system of executive authorities in the field of environmental protection;
• The coordinating role of civil society in addressing environmental issues (environmental democracy and openness, the rule of law, ensuring transparency and compliance with environmental law standards);
• Protection of environmental rights and interests;
• Ukraine’s green recovery as the legal, social, and environmental foundation for sustainable development.

Special attention will be given to the involvement of civil society organizations as equal partners in the reform of the environmental sector and the implementation of educational and recovery projects. This will contribute to the consolidation of environmental democracy and alignment with European standards of environmental governance.

The roundtable inaugurates an annual civic platform for open dialogue among state institutions, civil society organizations, the academic community, and international experts with the aim of discussing the foundations of climate and environmental policy and the development of Ukraine’s environmental legislation. The outcomes of the roundtable will include the preparation of proposals to be submitted to the executive authorities of Ukraine.

Participation is open to all committed to the Europeanization of national legislation, environmental advocacy, and the shaping of Ukraine’s environmental policy, including:

• representatives of civil society organizations and initiative groups advocating for citizens’ environmental rights and interests;
• state officials and government representatives responsible for implementing environmental reforms and integrating European standards;
• scholars, academics, and practitioners in law and environmental protection;
• students, postgraduate students, and young researchers eager to contribute to the development of environmental law and policy for the future.

Registration: To participate in the roundtable, please complete the registration form (Google Form) by 20 September 2025 at the following link: [to be provided].

Programme of the Event

09:30–10:00 – Registration of participants
10:00–10:30 – Opening of the roundtable
10:30–12:00 – Panel Discussion I: Reforming national environmental policy and adapting environmental legislation to EU standards in the field of environmental protection
12:00–13:30 – Panel Discussion II: Protection of environmental rights and interests: advocacy challenges, public participation, European experience
13:30–14:00 – Coffee break
14:00–15:30 – Panel Discussion III: Ukraine’s green recovery: partnership for a sustainable future
15:30–16:00 – Concluding session: adoption of resolutions and recommendations

Working languages: Ukrainian, English, Slovak
Venue: Uzhhorod, 3 Narodna Square
Format: Hybrid (offline + online). The link for online participation: Join the Zoom conference https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87669193341?pwd=fDrCJnC8jzbfJF6cDzqlbFpdaraBlO.1 Conference ID: 876 6919 3341 Access code: 0612

Moderators:

• Hanna Anisimova – Doctor of Law, Professor, Professor at the Department of Environmental Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
• Yaroslav Lazur – Doctor of Law, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Uzhhorod National University
• Olha Donets – PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Head of NGO “Grassroots Institute”

Organizing Committee:

Chair of the Organizing Committee:

• Anatolii Hetman – Doctor of Law, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Rector of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University

Deputy Chair of the Organizing Committee:

• Yurii Barabash – Doctor of Law, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Vice-Rector for Academic and Strategic Development, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University

Members of the Organizing Committee:

• Hanna Anisimova – Doctor of Law, Professor, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
• Olha Donets – PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
• Yaroslav Lazur – Doctor of Law, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Uzhhorod National University
• Mariia Mendzhul – Doctor of Law, Professor, Uzhhorod National University
• Nataliia Petretska – PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Vice-Dean for International Relations, Faculty of Law, Uzhhorod National University
• Antonina Sabovchyk – PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Uzhhorod National University
• Sofiia Shutiak – Deputy Chair, Committee on Agrarian, Land and Environmental Law, Ukrainian National Bar Association; Lecturer, Ukrainian National Forestry University
• Nataliia Kryvoruchko – PhD in Economics, Social Sphere Manager, NGO “SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine,” Chair of the IDPs Council under the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration

https://legalforum.nlu.edu.ua/events/ekoloho-pravova-hromadska-platforma-demokratiia-verkhovenstvo-prava-j-zelene-vidnovlennia/

Contact Person:
Olha Donets
PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Head of NGO “Grassroots Institute”
olya.donets@gmail.com  | o.v.donets@nlu.edu.ua
+380 50 570 43 28

REGISTER FOR EVENT