Transcript Slide 1

Experience of the International and EU
based organisations on influence of the
EU environmental policy
Mara Silina
European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
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Regional training on policy analysis with special
accent on EU approximation
26 – 29 May 2014 in Becici/Budva, Montenegro
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Example: The Aarhus
Convention in the EU
• The Aarhus Convention – signed by the EC in June
1998
• EC ratifies it in 2005
• Adjustments to the legislation on 3 pillars of the
Convention:
• Access to Information – Directive 2003/4/EC
• Public participation – Directive 2003/35/EC
• Access to Justice – Proposal for Directive
2003/624/EC
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• Regulation N° 1367/2006 of the European Parliament
and of the Council on the application of the provisions
of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information,
Public Participation in Decision-making and Access
to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community
institutions and bodies posal for Directive
2003/624/EC
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“Bumpy” road to the Access to
Justice in the EU
 Proposal discussed with different stakeholders
 EP – first reading with a lot of amendments
 Council – could not agree and proposal frozen since
2003
 EEB (NGOs) continuously ask for renewed
discussions and decision on AtoJ Directive
 Seemingly fresh start in 2013 during the Irish EU
Presidency
 EC consultation “Consultation on Access to justice
in environmental matters – options for improving
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access to justice at Member State level” – fall 2013
“Bumpy” road to the Access to
Justice in the EU
• Favourable result but blocked again in interservice
consultations
• Mobilising some MEPs to request the EC come with the new
proposal – will this happen?
• Formal withdrawal of the 2003 proposal – last week!!!
• “A new legislative proposal in this area is urgently needed, not only
to create a more democratic Europe, not only to improve the
implementation of environmental law, not only to create a more level
playing field for business but also in order to ensure that the EU is
fully in compliance with its obligations under international law,
namely the Aarhus Convention.” - quote from EEB’s press release
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on 23 May 2014
Thank you!
Want to know more or join in the work –
please contact me:
[email protected]
Tel.: +32 2 289 10 90
Fax: +32 2 289 10 99
http://www.eeb.org
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