UNECE Aarhus Convention takes hold in the European
Union
Geneva, 31 October 2003 --
To strengthen environmental democracy
and promote the public's involvement
in environmental decisions throughout
the European Union, the European Commission
has adopted three legislative proposals
to put the Aarhus Convention, negotiated
under the auspices of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE),
into practice.
If the European Commission's proposals are adopted, the
provisions of the Aarhus Convention will apply in full to the European Union's
bodies and institutions. The European Commission is also proposing a directive
on access to justice in environmental matters and a decision on formally ratifying
the Aarhus Convention.
In effect, this means that European Union bodies and institutions
will have to respond to requests from the public for specific environmental
information. They will also have to make information on the state of the environment
available to the public at large. Moreover, the public will have a say in
the preparation of environmental policies. According to the European Commission's
proposals, the public will also be able to haul EU bodies and institutions
before the European Court of Justice if they do not comply with environmental
legislation.
Kaj Bärlund, Director of the UNECE Environment and Human
Settlements Division, welcomed the announcement of these proposals by the
European Commission as the Aarhus Convention marked the second anniversary
of its entry into force. He said that it was a good day for Europe's people
and for Europe's environment, as these new proposals would encourage ordinary
citizens to take responsibility for protecting their environment and to hold
the authorities accountable for their actions or inactions.
The UNECE Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
was adopted in the Danish city of Aarhus in 1998. It came into force on 30
October 2001 and now has 26 Parties: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan
and Ukraine.
For more information, please contact:
Kaj
Bärlund
UNECE Environment and Human
Settlements Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Phone: + 41 (0) 22 917 23 70
Fax: + 41 (0) 22 907 01 07
E-mail: [email protected] |
Jeremy
Wates
UNECE Environment and Human
Settlements Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Phone: + 41 (0)
22 917 42 26
Fax: + 41 (0) 22 907 01 07
E-mail: [email protected]
or [email protected]
|
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/
Ref: ECE/ENV/03/P23