Environmental security in rural areas near the Ukrainian-Polish border: comparative analysis

Abstract

A comparative analysis of the ecological safety of rural areas of the Ukrainian-Polish border was conducted. The main statistical indicators characterizing the natural environment on both sides of the Ukrainian-Polish border have been studied. The possibility of using indicators of the state of ecology of rural areas used for statistical purposes in Ukraine and Poland has been studied. The degree of implementation of the provisions of the “Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, on the other hand” on the unification of statistics was analyzed and found to be incomplete. Indicators used for statistics in Poland (EU) and Ukraine differ significantly, which greatly prevents a full comparison of the environment and living conditions, which a priori determine the quality of life, its duration, the health of residents on both sides of the border. This situation complicates the planning of joint Ukrainian-Polish activities in all areas covered by the concept of “environmental security in the cross-border area”. It was emphasized that Ukraine has undertaken to harmonize the Ukrainian statistical system with the European Statistical System, as well as to support the introduction of a common quality management system in all processes of production and distribution of statistical products, but this activity is very slow. It is revealed that due to this situation the cooperation between the parties within the European Statistical System, namely Eurostat as the EU statistical body, in the field of environmental statistics remains low. It is proved that the presence of a large number of border crossings in border areas are additional (compared to other local areas) centers of agricultural soil pollution: increasing air emissions and solid waste, consuming more water, respectively, increases the amount of wastewater and the load on treatment plants. At the same time, there is a constant threat of transboundary pollution and accidents of water supply systems, and consequently, the release of emissions of varying degrees of danger into water and soil. The need to conduct further research to study the structure of agricultural production of the Ukrainian-Polish borderland with an emphasis on organic production and consumption was noted.