Aarhus

The Forum is involved in the activities of the Aarhus Convention (UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters), especially those of the Task Force on Access to Justice. This includes performing analytical studies on different aspects of the implementation of the Aarhus Convention, developing best practices, further development of the database on Aarhus case law and the preparation of capacity building activities for judges.

Fruzsina Bögös, secretary-general of EUFJE, is a member of the Aarhus Compliance Committee.


Luc Lavrysen, president of EUFJE, chaired the Judicial Colloquium “SDG16: Role of the Judiciary in Promoting the Rule of Law in Environmental Matters” convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva from 27-28 February 2019.

 

Honorary EUFJE member Lord Robert Carnwath represented EUFJE at the 24th meeting of the Aarhus Convention Working Group of the Parties (28-29 October 2020), and National focal points of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). He gave a keynote speech on Access to Environmental Justice in the UK.

 

On 28 October 2021, the European Parliament adopted amendments to the Aarhus Regulation No. 1367/2006 to allow for better public scrutiny of EU acts affecting the environment. The amendments improve the possibilities to request that the EU institutions review such acts to better ensure environmental protection.

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/aarhus/legislation.htm

 

On 3-5 April 2023, several EUFJE members attended the Aarhus Convention Task force on access to justice, on the topic "Access to justice in cases related to climate change and biodiversity protection", and EUFJE President Luc Lavrysen chaired the Judicial Colloquium on the topic "Judicial protection of human rights and public interests against environmental pollution from chemicals and wastes".

 

On 14-16 September 2023, EUFJE President Luc Lavrysen attended the International Judges Conference on Access to Environmental Justice in Kirghizstan and gave a presentation on “Access to justice in climate and air quality cases”.

 

On 2-4 July 2024, EUFJE President Luc Lavrysen and EUFJE member Silvia Martinez Canton actively took part in the 28th meeting of the Aarhus Convention's Working Group of the Parties in the session of Access to Justice, and more specifically Collective Redress. List of decisions and outcomes.

 

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