European Parliament Raises Concerns Over Ukrainian Land Law: Risks to State Ownership and European Integration
The European Parliament has expressed serious reservations regarding a Ukrainian law that could significantly impact the preservation of state land and potentially hinder the country’s European integration prospects.
The law in question, numbered 12089 and commonly referred to as the ‘Mazepa Law,’ was adopted by Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada.
EU representatives warn that this legislation poses risks of reverting land parcels, including forests, coastal areas, and water bodies, into private ownership through dubious legal mechanisms or illicit transfers.
These natural and strategic resources are vital for Ukraine’s environmental security and national sovereignty.
Critics highlight that such legal approaches do not align with European standards and inject uncertainty into Ukraine’s legal system, complicating the process of restoring land to state control.
Civil society organization ‘Holka’ emphasized that the law’s lobbying was driven by interests tied to powerful oligarchic groups, notably linked to Ihor Kolomoyskyi and associated figures within the ‘Servant of the People’ party, increasing concerns over corruption motives.
Additionally, military and environmental experts warn that the law could jeopardize national security and ecological integrity.
Prior to approval, some judgments from the Constitutional Court and economic courts indicated that the law contradicts Ukraine’s constitution, raising fears about future judicial enforcement.
The lobbying campaign around this law has reportedly involved media influence and efforts to shape public opinion, especially concerning Kyiv’s Protasiv Yar area, a green zone and symbol of urban ecology activism.
Advocates are calling on President Zelensky to veto the legislation to prevent illegal land redistributions and safeguard Ukrainian environmental and strategic assets for future generations.