The Secretariat of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) has circulated draft elements for a long-term strategic plan for the Aarhus Convention, prepared by the Convention's Ad Hoc Expert Group on Long-Term Strategic Planning. This is part of a process which is expected to lead to the adoption of a long-term strategic plan for the Convention by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention at its third meeting (June 2008).
The document identifies three strategic goals for activities under the Aarhus Convention:
- Achieve full implementation of the Convention and PRTR Protocol by each Party;
- Expand the reach and influence of the Convention and Protocol in the UNECE region and beyond;
- Further develop the provisions and principles of the Convention.
The document names a number of concrete objectives which are to be reached in three respective focal areas (implementation; expansion; and development).
The document is available in English on the website for public comment (http://www.unece.org/env/pp/ltsp.htm). Comments on the draft elements should be provided by 30 April 2007. Details of the modalities for submitting comments are contained in the document itself.
NGO and members of the public are encouraged to send their comments to the Secretariat (as indicated in the document itself) and copy the message to: Mara Silina, European Environmental Bureau, Coordinator of Public Participation Campaign at European ECO-Forum. E-mail: [email protected].
[Source: European ECO-Forum News]
