Nature-positive recovery: Ukraine’s green reconstruction and EU accession

Nature-positive recovery: Ukraine’s green reconstruction and EU accession is a 90-minute public policy panel held in Brussels as part of EU Green Week 2026. The event is organised by RACSE in partnership with the Foreign Policy Council 'Ukrainian Prism'.

The event explores how Ukraine’s post-war recovery can serve as a real-world case for operationalising a nature-positive economy while advancing EU accession.

As reconstruction and European integration unfold simultaneously, Ukraine faces a unique opportunity to embed the EU environmental acquis directly into recovery planning. The event examines how aligning investments with EU directives on nature restoration, water management, waste, industrial emissions and climate policy can accelerate compliance while avoiding future environmental liabilities.

A key objective is to explore how large-scale financial flows for reconstruction can be mobilised towards Nature-Positive outcomes. The discussion addresses the role of EU financial instruments, development banks and private capital, as well as the application of sustainable finance frameworks such as ESG standards, the EU taxonomy and green bonds to support biodiversity restoration, climate resilience and ecosystem recovery.

The panel also showcases practical solutions and flagship initiatives emerging in Ukraine, including ecosystem restoration in war-affected regions, Nature-Based Solutions for flood protection and soil recovery, and green infrastructure integrated into urban and regional reconstruction strategies.

Another important dimension is societal engagement across EU Member States. The event highlights how environmental cooperation can strengthen partnerships between Ukrainian and European civil society, municipalities, businesses and research communities, contributing to broader support for Ukraine’s EU accession.

The target audience includes EU policymakers, international organisations, financial institutions, civil society representatives, think tanks and Ukrainian stakeholders involved in reconstruction and environmental policy.

The panel features speakers from EU institutions, the Ukrainian government, international organisations, financial institutions and civil society.

By positioning Ukraine as both a beneficiary and a strategic partner, the event contributes to the EU Green Week 2026 theme 'Investing in a nature-positive economy' through a concrete and timely example of systemic transformation.