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.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
The most important amendments adopted:
- broadening the scope to include sustainable development;
- inclusion of banking activities (e.g. from the European Investment Bank)
- less 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.
The Aarhus Convention was concluded in 1998 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The EU ratified the Aarhus Convention on 17 February 2005.
Source: EurActiv.com (20 January 2006)
