Through paragraph 16 (a) (ii) of decision III/3 and paras. 5 and 13 (a) of decision IV/2 , the Meeting of the Parties requested the Task Force on Access to Justice to provide a platform for sharing information, experiences and good practices related to access to justice by supporting a portal for the exchange of jurisprudence concerning the Aarhus Convention for use by judges, legal professionals, academics and other stakeholders.
Parties to the Convention and other stakeholders are kindly invited to submit the following information about cases that make reference to the Aarhus Convention and its principles: case summaries (in English) of judgments and decisions from the courts and other bodies, the decisions of which have precedence in the legal system, concerning “Aarhus issues” (i.e. either by reference to the Aarhus Convention itself, or to domestic legislation implementing the Convention or dealing with the principles of the Convention). Also, cases involving a country from relevant judicial bodies at the regional level, such as the European Court of Justice (EU) and the European Court of Human Rights.
A template (ENG and RUS) and an example (ENG and RUS) have been prepared to facilitate submission of relevant cases. Please send the submissions to the Aarhus Convention secretariat (public.participation[at]unece.org).
The jurisprudence has been included in the Aarhus Clearingshouse for Environmental Democracy.
A
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | General Jurisdiction Court of First Instance of Syunik Region | 22 residents of the Kapan city v. Armenian Sewerage Compan | Access to justice | |
Armenia | Cassation Court | Teghout mine case | NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) | |
Armenia | Constitutional Court | Decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia N906 | NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) | |
Armenia | Administrative Court of Armenia | Dolphynarium case | NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) |
B
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Belgium | Constitutional Court | Public participation, access to justice, plans and programmes (art. 7) | ||
Belgium | Constitutional Court | Public participation, plans and programmes (art. 7) | ||
Belgium | Constitutional Court | Access to justice (art. 9, para. 3) | ||
Belgium | Council of State | Access to environmental information (art. 4, paras. 1, 3, 4 and 6) | ||
Belgium | Council of State | NGO standing (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 5) | ||
Belgium | Council of State | Boxus and W. Roua | Public participation, access to justice and projects (art. 2, para. 2, and art. 9, para. 2) | |
Belgium | Constitutional Court | Public participation, access to justice and projects (art. 2, para. 2, art. 3, para. 9, art. 6, para. 9, and art 9, paras. 2-4) | ||
Belgium | Council of State | IMMO Dominique | Access to justice and environmental permitting (art. 2, para. 2, art. 3, para. 9, art. 6, para. 8, and art. 9, para. 2 and 4) |
F
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
France | Conseil d'Etat | Conseil d'Etat No266668 | Access to environmental information (art 4) |
G
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Germany | Oberwaltungsgericht Schleswig | NABU and others v die Stadt Kappeln | Access to justice (art 9 paras 2 and 5) |
I
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Codacons v Ministry of the Environment 18 December 2007 | Public participation (art 6, 7 and 8), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Horiba di Bombini G. e C. s.n.c. v Comitato Regionale Pugliese di Legambiente | Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Corte Suprema di Cassazione | Verdi Ambiente e Società ONLUS v Tribunale di Foggia | NGO standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Italia Nostra, Legambiente, WWF v Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri et al. | Access to information (art 4 and 5), public participation (art 6) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Regione Veneto v Legambiente of Verona et al | Standing (art 2 para 5), public participation (art 6), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | National Organisation of Nuclear Physics v Engineers Association | Access to information (art 4 and 5), public participation (art 6) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Region of Lombardia; ’La Rinascente’ v Legambiente | NGO standing (art 2 para 5), plans programs and policies (art 7), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | Landesverband für Heimatpflege in Südtirol v Provincia di Bolzano; Comune di Monguelfo | Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) | |
Italy | Consiglio di Stato | CODACONS Nazionale e CODACONS Centro Marche v Comune di Potenza Picena et al | Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) |
L
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Latvia | Constitutional Court | Case 2008-03-03 on compliance of Regulation No 67 of the Riga City Council with the Spatial Planning Law and art 115 of the Constitution | Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 2, art 4, art 6, art 7, art 9) | |
Latvia | Constitutional Court | Case 2008-38-03 on compliance of Regulations No 8 and No19 of the Municipality of Jurmala with art 115 of the Constitution | Public participation, access to environmental information (art 4, | |
Latvia | Constitutional Court | On Compliance of the Binding Regulation No. 67 of 19 December 2006 of the Riga City Council "Regulations of Use and Building of the Territory in Maskava Street 264 (Cadastre No. 01000780413) and Maskava Street without Number" with Item 1 of Section 3 of the Spatial Planning Law, Item 4 of the First Part of Section 37 of the Protection Zone Law and art. 115 of the Satversme (Constitution) of the Republic of Latvia | Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 2, art 4, art 6, art 7, art 9) | |
Latvia | Constitutional Court | On compliance of the Cabinet of Ministers 8 August 2001 Decree No. 401 "On the Location of the Hazardous Waste Incineration Facility in Olaine" with art. 111 and 115 of the Satversme, art. 5 and 6 (Items 1-3) of the Waste Management Law, art. 3 and 11 of the Law "On the Environmental Impact Assessment", art. 14 and 17 (the First Part) of the Law on Pollution as well as art. 11 of the Law ‘On Environmental Protection’ | Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 3 para 2, art 4, art 6 (annex I para 5) art 9) | |
Lithuania | Supreme Administrative Court | A. Ž. and others v. Ministry of Environment and its Vilnius Regional Protection Department | Access to justice (art. 1, art. 2, para. 4 and art. 9, paras. 3 and 4) |
S
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Key issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | Tribunal Supremo | Asociación GECEN – Aeropuerto de Castellón | NGO standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) | |
Spain | Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias | Port of Granadilla, (Decision on interim measures # 66/09) | Injunction (art 9 paras. 3 and 4) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Miljööverdomstolen) | Mettinge (Sweden); MÖD 2001:29 | Public concerned (neighbours) (art 2 and art 9 para 3) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) | Uppsala Värme (Sweden); MÖD 2002:82 | Public concerned (art 2 para 5 and art 9 para 2) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) | Ödeshög (Sweden); MÖD 2003:19 | Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2 para 5 and art 9 para 3) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) | Perstorp (Sweden); MÖD 2003:98, MÖD 2003:99 | Public concerned (art 2 para 5 and art 9) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) | Gotland (Sweden); MÖD 2004:31 | Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2 para 5 and art 9 para 3) | |
Sweden | Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) | Ragnsells (Sweden); MÖD 2011:46 | Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2 para 5 and art 9 para 2) | |
Sweden | Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen) | Brännö Brygga, NJA 2004 s. 590 | Public concerned (neighbours) (art 2 para 5 and art 9) | |
Sweden | Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) | Gabbens bergtäkt (Sweden); RÅ 1993 ref. 97 | Public concerned and the public interest (art 2 para 5 and art 9 paras 2 and 3) | |
Sweden | Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) | Stora Billerud (Sweden); RÅ 1997 ref 38 | Standing for individuals (art 2 para 5 and art 9) | |
Sweden | Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) | Great crested newt (Sweden); RÅ 2005 ref 44 | The public interest and the scope of environmental impact assessment (art 2 para 5 and art 9) |
U
Country | Court | Case | Summary | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | ||
United Kingdom | High Court | Public participation (art 6), costs and remedies (art 9 para 4) | ||
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Morgan v Hinton Organics (Wessex) Ltd | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | |
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | ||
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | ||
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Davey v Aylesbury Vale District Council | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | |
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | R (Buglife) v Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | |
United Kingdom | High Court and Court of Appeal | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | ||
United Kingdom | High Court | R (on the application of McCaw) v City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court [2008] (judgment not available) | Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) | |
United Kingdom | Court of Appeal | Compton v Wiltshire Primary Care Trust | Costs (art 9 para 4) | |
United Kingdom | Court of Session | Opinion of Lady Dorrian in the Petition of Marco McGinty and Another for Judicial Review | Costs (art 9 para 4) |
EU
Court | Case | Summary | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
European Union | Court of First Instance | Case T-264/04 (EN) | Access to information (art. 2, para 3) | |
European Union | Court of First Instance, Court of Justice | Case T-91/07 (EN) and C-355/08 P (EN) | NGO standing before the Court of First Instance and the Court of Justice (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 3) | |
European Union | Court of Justice | Case C-427/07 (EN) | Public and public concerned (art 2, paras. 4 and 5), public participation (art. 6, para. 1 (b)), access to justice (art. 9, paras. 2, 4 and 5) | |
European Union | Court of Justice | Case C-263/08 (EN / SV) | Access to justice (art. 9, para. 2), public participation (art. 6, para 1(a), public concerned (art 2, paras. 4 and 5), NGO standing (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 2) | |
European Union | Court of Justice | Case C-115/09 (EN / DE) | Access to justice (art. 9 paras. 2-4), NGO standing (art. 2, para.5; art. 9, para. 2), public participation (art. 6) | |
European Union | Court of Justice | Case C-240/09 (EN / SK) | Public participation (art 3, para. 1; art. 6, para 1), access to justice (art. 9, para. 3) | |
European Union | Court of Justice | Case C-260/11 (EN) | Prohibitive costs (art. 9, para. 4) |
Disclaimer: The presence of summaries submitted by national focal points and other stakeholders on this web site does not imply endorsement of their content by the UNECE.
