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: 29/5/09: Hungary becomes 15th Party to the first amendment and 13th Party to the second. More »... 14/5/09: All presentations made at 12th meeting of the Working Group on EIA. More »... 6/3/09: Submission by Ukraine having concerns about Romania’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention. 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: 24/11/08: The European Community became the 10th Party to the Protocol on 12 November 2008. More »

Upcoming meetings:

14-18 September 2009: 17th session of the Implementation Committee, Geneva

... more meetings »

Espoo in the subregions