The approach of this handbook published by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe is to use cases to illustrate the obligations of the Aarhus Convention and how they might be enforced or upheld through complaints procedures and other means of access to justice. In dealing with issues such as the rules with respect to broader standing, and the application of those rules in particular circumstances,it is hoped that parties to the Convention will consider different options in the adoption of implementing legislation and in the development of rules of court and rules of practice of other tribunals and similar bodies. It is hoped that an exchange will be fostered resulting in the development and broad adoption of best practices in the field of access to justice in environmental matters in the UNECE region. The first part of the handbook discusses specific issues with respect to the implementation of the access to justice obligations of the Convention, drawing upon, analysing and evaluating the results of the case studies as much as possible. While an attempt was made to identify case studies dealing with as many of the aspects of access to justice in relation to the Aarhus Convention as possible, not allsuch aspects could be covered by practical case examples. Thus, the analysis also relies upon the authors’ research and sometimes direct experience.
