01/09/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 1 September, MEPs sitting on the European Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) validated the political agreement that was reached on 12 July regarding the proposal to amend EU Regulation 1367/2006 on public access to justice in environmental matters; the intention is to bring it fully in line with the Aarhus Convention that it transposes (see EUROPE 12768/3). The text resulting from the inter-institutional negotiations was approved by a large majority (65 votes for, 14 against and 2 abstentions). It provides for better public scrutiny of EU administrative acts in the field of the environment – by NGOs and individuals alike – and for better public access to justice to ensure the EU meets its international obligations (see EUROPE 12761/5). The floor is now open to the European Parliament, whose approval is required to pave the way for the formal adoption of the text. (AN)