OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2013. In Berlin, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Vilkul held a working meeting with Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany Ursula Heinen-Esser. The meeting took place as part of the VII meeting of the Ukrainian-German High Level Group on Economic Cooperation.

"Germany is a recognized leader in the development of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. One of the key areas of the State Program of economy activation of Ukraine for 2013-2014 is a modernization of housing and communal services. Each region tasked to significantly reduce natural gas consumption in 2014, replacing it to other energy sources. And the experience of German side is important in this respect," Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

Oleksandr Vilkul and Ursula Heinen-Esser have discussed issues of cooperation in the field of ecology, the environment, energy conservation and energy efficiency.

German party supported the position of Ukrainian side on the coordination of positions of other countries and the signing of a new climate agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

During the meeting of the High Level Group, the Joint declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of climate and environment between the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Housing of Ukraine and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany.

An example of effective collaboration is Ukrainian-German-Slovak UNESCO World Natural Heritage "Beech Forests of Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany".

One of promising bilateral projects is the project to ensure biodiversity of areas in Ukraine. Germany confirmed its willingness to fund the project in 2015. Ukraine prepared and gave the German side the project proposal. If the decision is passed funding in the amount of 15 million euros is provided.

Also a pilot project "Energy Efficient Cities" is started which includes a number of measures for rehabilitation of housing and social foundations of cities in Ukraine. The project will be implemented in Zholkva OF Lviv region.

Ukraine is interested in the use of modern energy-saving technologies. Our country is working hard to join the International Agency for Renewable Energy (IRENA).