The Chairperson of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, Ms Hanne Inger Bjurstrøm, issued a letter encouraging countries to explore the possibilities for expediting progress towards ratification of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs). The Bureau of the Convention has proposed that the Sixth Ministerial Conference 'Environment for Europe', scheduled for 10-12 October 2007 in Belgrade, should serve as a kind of target to stimulate progress toward ratification.
So far, only Luxembourg and the European Community have ratified or approved the Protocol on PRTRs. Reportedly, 13 EU countries are working toward ratification by the end of 2007 and another three countries are on record having stated their intention to ratify the instrument this year.
The Protocol enters into force 90 days after the sixteenth national instrument of ratification is deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General in New York. Fifteen nations would therefore have to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by 3 October 2007 for the year-end target to be met.
