Environmental threats do not respect national borders. Governments have realized that to avert this danger they must notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that might have adverse environmental impact across borders. The Espoo Convention is a key step to bringing together all stakeholders to prevent environmental damage before it occurs. The Convention entered into force in 1997. More »

Latest news:

21/7/08: Slovakia became the 11th Party to the first amendment and the ninth Party to the second amendment on 29 May 2008, and Spain became the 12th Party to the first amendment on 16 July 2008. More »

27/5/08: Photographs, presentations and some statements from 4th Meeting of the Parties now available. More »

22/5/08: Press release: Work on the controversial Bystroe Canal Project to be reconsidered. More »

22/5/08: Press release: Environmental agreement among seven countries of South-Eastern Europe signed 20 May. More »

18/12/07: Serbia became the 42nd Party to the Convention on 18 December 2007. More »

The SEA Protocol will augment the Espoo Convention by ensuring that individual Parties integrate environmental assessment into their plans and programmes at the earliest stages – so helping to lay the groundwork for sustainable development. The Protocol also provides for extensive public participation in the governmental decision-making process. More »

Latest news:

21/7/08: Slovakia became the eighth Party to the Protocol on 29 May 2008, and Luxembourg became the ninth Party on 2 July 2008. More »

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©Photographs courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service and Department of Energy, respectively.