Public access to Environmental Policy strengthened
The European Parliament has amended a Council decision in order to improve access to information and public participation in EU environmental decision making, but it refused to give NGOs the right to take member states to court.
The Aarhus Convention was concluded in 1998 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It foresees access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters. The EU ratified the Aarhus Convention on 17 February 2005.
The Parliament adopted the Korhola report on the application of the Aarhus Convention for the EU institutions and member states on 18 January. MEPs amended the Council’s Common Position in several respects, so a conciliation procedure will be necessary to finalise this issue.
The most important amendments adopted:
• broadening the scope to include sustainable development;
• inclusion of banking activities (e.g. from the European Investment Bank);
• fewer exceptions to the transparency rules.
To the disappointment of green NGOs, the Parliament rejected an amendment that would have given non-governmental organisations the right to take a member state or an institution to the European Court when it believed that a public authority was not applying environmental laws properly.
Source: www.activ.com (accessed 13/02/06)
For details on all JPD with NQA Environmental Courses, please visit our website www.jpd.co.uk or call one of our Training Advisors on 0870 438 2573
(Taken from PLUS, January 2006)