Press Release: Aarhus Convention: Commission welcomes agreements to strengthen citizens’ involvement in environmental matters

The European Commission welcomed the green light given by the EU's Environment Council, 20 December 2004, for the European Union to ratify the Aarhus Convention. On the same day the Council also reached a political agreement on a Regulation that will apply the Convention's provisions to Community institutions and bodies. The Aarhus Convention lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizens' involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law. It grants the public access to environmental information, provides for participation in environmental decision-making, and allows the public to seek redress when environmental law is infringed, including breaches of the two previous rights.

European Commission: DG Environment: International issues: Multilateral Environmental Agreements http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/international_issues/agreements_en.htm

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