The pace of ratification of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers has increased since the Aarhus Convention Parties third meeting, held in Riga in June 2008. Four new ratifications - by Norway, Croatia, Denmark and Sweden - have been deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General during the summer and autumn of 2008 following the Meeting of the Parties.
Since the fifth meeting of the Working Group charged with preparing the first Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (MOPP-1), six Signatories countries had ratified and one non-Signatory country had acceded to the Protocol. The fifth meeting of the body had postponed scheduling the (MOPP-1) in 2008 due to the slow pace of ratifications during the previous twelve-month period.
The Working Group noted at its just concluded meeting, held from 24 to 26 November 2008, that the Parties to the Convention had urged Signatories to ratify the Protocol by the end of 2008. The Riga Statement on the Protocol had its intended effect. In addition to the new ratifications, 11 countries announced their intention to ratify the instrument by the end of 2009 during the sixth meeting.
The Working Group concluded that given the pace of ratificaton the first session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol could very likely be scheduled in early 2010.
Sixteen member State ratifcations are needed for the Protocol to enter into force. To date, the Protocol has garnered 12 ratifications (including accessions), 11 from member States. Five more ratifications are needed to bring about the entry into force.
(Source: UNECE)
