EU - Court of Justice - Protect Natur-, Arten- und Landschaftsschutz Umweltorganisation v Bezirkshauptmannschaft Gmünd, Reference for a preliminary ruling (C - 664/15) - summary with link to judgment

Standing – Environmental NGOs must be able to challenge decisions made within the framework of water law permit procedures. Where participation as a party to the administrative procedure is required for judicial review, such participatory rights must be accorded to environmental NGOs.

Effective remedies – National procedural rules which would result in the loss of party status (and therefore concomitant rights to judicial review) for failure to timely intervene are not allowed where they appear to be unfair or impossible standards.