Case status: Findings adopted on 23.07.2021 – Non-compliance found.
Follow-up: On-going; see Decision VII/8g.
Topics: Definitions; Access to justice.
Articles alleged: 2 (5); 3 (4), 3 (6); 9 (2).
Articles considered by the Committee: 2 (5); 3 (4); 9 (2); 9 (3).
Articles, if any, found in non-compliance: 2 (5); 9 (2).
Summary: On 10 February 2016, WWF Germany submitted a communication to the Compliance Committee alleging that Germany failed to comply with its obligations under the Convention with respect to the criteria for standing of environmental non-governmental organizations to have access to justice in environmental matters. More specifically, the communicant alleged that the criteria for recognition established in the Environmental Appeals Act are overly restrictive and have a discriminatory effect, and impede access to justice, in violation of articles 2 (5), 3 (4) and (6) and 9 (2) of the Convention.
Documents | Status | Date received or posted by the secretariat |
---|---|---|
Communication and annexes | From the communicant | 10.02.2016 |
Comments on preliminary admissibility | From the Party concerned | 01.03.2016 |
Letter to the Party concerned enclosing the Committee's determination of preliminary admissibility and forwarding the communication for the Party concerned's response | From the secretariat | 03.08.2016 |
Letter to the communicant enclosing the Committee's determination of preliminary admissibility | From the secretariat | 03.08.2016 |
Cover letter enclosing response | From the Party concerned | 03.01.2017 |
Comments on the Party concerned's response to the communication | From the communicant | 07.02.2017 |
Statement | From observer (Greenpeace) | 08.02.2017 |
Questions from the Committee to the communicant | From the secretariat | 12.03.2018 |
Request for extension to reply to the Committee's questions | From the communicant | 22.03.2018 |
Decision from the Chair of the Committee to grant an extension | From the secretariat | 27.03.2018 |
Reply to questions | From the communicant | 17.04.2018 |
Letters inviting Party concerned and communicant to hearing at the Committee’s 61st meeting | From the secretariat | 23.05.2018 |
Opening statement for hearing at Committee's 61st meeting | From the communicant | 03.07.2018 |
Opening statement for hearing at Committee's 61st meeting | From the Party concerned | 04.07.2018 |
Observer statement for hearing at Committee's 61st meeting | From the observer, Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) | 04.07.2018 |
Draft findings and letters to the Party concerned and communicant inviting their comments | From the secretariat | 08.06.2021 |
Cover letter enclosing comments on the Committee’s draft findings Annex 1: Comments on draft findings in track changes |
From the Party concerned | 14.07.2021 |
Comments on the Committee’s draft findings | From the communicant | 15.07.2021 |
Findings ENG | 23.07.2021 |