The second interinstitutional negotiation meeting on the revision of the EU’s ‘Aarhus’ regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006) on public access to justice in environmental matters will take place on 22 June, with the Portuguese EU Council Presidency’s negotiating mandate still unchanged, the EU-27 ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) confirmed on Wednesday 16 June.
The revision aims to respond to the findings of the Compliance Committee of the International Aarhus Convention that the EU does not properly provide access to citizens wishing to challenge an administrative act of the EU institutions or bodies (case ACCC/C2008/32), while respecting the EU legal order.
On Wednesday, the ambassadors had only a preliminary exchange of views - still rather general - on the criteria for extending legal status to individuals. The technical work, which began at the first trilogue in early May, will have to continue on different options, a diplomatic source said on Wednesday.
It should be recalled that the European Parliament’s position provides that not only NGOs, but also members of the public who meet the criteria set out in the Regulation, should have the right to submit a request for internal review to an EU institution or body (see EUROPE 12723/20).
National ambassadors and the European Commission still hope to conclude a third trilogue in mid-July to bring the EU’s response to the Conference of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention in October (see EUROPE 12734/1). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)