April 23, 2013, Kyiv — MAMA-86 Executive Director Zoriana Mishchuk called public participation in decision making related to nuclear power in Ukraine "lamentable." "Even strategic documents on Ukraine’s energy sector development, including the revised Energy Strategy until 2030, are discussed with just formal or very limited public participation, without further consideration of the opinions expressed. The same is true for decisions on life extension of outdated nuclear power blocks or construction of new ones," said Ms. Mishchuk. "Even when there are consultations with the public, they are, as a rule, at stages so late that little can be changed," she added.

Ms. Mishchuk made a presentation on practices of applying the Aarhus Convention to nuclear power in Ukraine and Europe at the round table "Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Ukraine: the Current Status and Prospects," held within the framework of the International Ecological Forum "Environment for Ukraine." The round table, organized with support from the EU-funded project "Complementary Budget Support to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine for the Sector Budget Support Implementation" and moderated by the project's key expert Anna Golubovska-Onisimova, was attended by representatives of numerous civil society organizations, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Ecological Academy of Postgraduate Education and Management, Presidential National Academy of Public Administration and media.

Ms. Mishchuk also presented the Aarhus Convention and Nuclear Roundtable Process, aimed at improving the Aarhus Convention Compliance through sharing experience, policy analysis and promoting policy change, in which Ukraine is the only non-EU participating country due to MAMA-86’ efforts.

The round table participants discussed problems of implementing the Aarhus Convention in Ukraine, in that challenges of public participation in decision making on issues related to environment and further activities of the Aarhus Information and Education Center, including its cooperation with NGOs and development of regional Aarhus information centers.

The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was signed in June 25, 1998, in Aarhus, Denmark, "in order to contribute to the protection of the right of every person of present and future generations to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being." The Convention was ratified by Ukraine in July 1999, and entered into force for Ukraine on Oct. 30, 2001.