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Giving the Environment a Voice? Access to Justice for NGOs in the EU post the Aarhus Convention

Mejstad, Alva LU (2013) JURM02 20131
Department of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
I denna uppsats kommer jag att titta på hur miljöorganisationers talerätt har förändrats i EU efter det att EU ratificerade Århuskonventionen. Århuskonventionen ger individer och miljöorganisationer talerätt gällande tillgång till information, rätt att delta i beslutsprocesser, men också gentemot privatpersoner eller myndigheter som strider mot den nationella miljölagstiftningen. EU har införlivat konventionen genom direktiv och förordningar. Även EU-domstolen har spelat en viktig roll i att skapa ny rättspraxis där miljörättsorganisationer tillgång till rättslig prövning i miljöfrågor på nationell nivå har vidgats. När det gäller miljöorganisationers talerätt på EU-nivå, har situationen inte förändrats mycket sedan innan... (More)
I denna uppsats kommer jag att titta på hur miljöorganisationers talerätt har förändrats i EU efter det att EU ratificerade Århuskonventionen. Århuskonventionen ger individer och miljöorganisationer talerätt gällande tillgång till information, rätt att delta i beslutsprocesser, men också gentemot privatpersoner eller myndigheter som strider mot den nationella miljölagstiftningen. EU har införlivat konventionen genom direktiv och förordningar. Även EU-domstolen har spelat en viktig roll i att skapa ny rättspraxis där miljörättsorganisationer tillgång till rättslig prövning i miljöfrågor på nationell nivå har vidgats. När det gäller miljöorganisationers talerätt på EU-nivå, har situationen inte förändrats mycket sedan innan Århuskonventionen. Det är fortfarande praktiskt taget omöjligt för en miljöorganisation för att uppfylla kravet på individualisering i miljöfrågor.

Om talerätten som Århuskonventionen ger miljöorganisationer införlivas fullt ut på EU-nivå och i medlemsstaterna, skulle det kanske finnas en reell möjlighet för allmänheten att se till så att miljölagstiftningen följs och på så sätt kunna skydda vår miljö. Då skulle man kanske till och med kunna säga att miljön har fått en röst. (Less)
Abstract
In this thesis I will look at how access to justice for NGOs has changed in the EU after the Union became a party to the Aarhus Convention. The Aarhus Convention gives individuals and environmental NGOs access to justice regarding access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making, but also in regard to private persons or public authorities in breach of national environmental law. EU has implemented the Convention through directives and regulations and the ECJ has played an important role as gap filler in recent case law. NGOs have in these cases been given wider access to justice in environmental matters at national level. But when it comes to access to justice at EU level, the legal situation has not changed... (More)
In this thesis I will look at how access to justice for NGOs has changed in the EU after the Union became a party to the Aarhus Convention. The Aarhus Convention gives individuals and environmental NGOs access to justice regarding access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making, but also in regard to private persons or public authorities in breach of national environmental law. EU has implemented the Convention through directives and regulations and the ECJ has played an important role as gap filler in recent case law. NGOs have in these cases been given wider access to justice in environmental matters at national level. But when it comes to access to justice at EU level, the legal situation has not changed much from before the Aarhus Convention. It is still practically impossible for an NGO to be directly and individually concerned in environmental matters.

If the provisions on access to justice in the Aarhus Convention would be fully implemented at EU level and in its Member States, there would perhaps be a real possibility for the public to be involved in enforcing environmental law and protecting the environment. Then one could perhaps even say that the environment has been given a voice. (Less)
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author
Mejstad, Alva LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20131
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
EU law, Environmental law, Access to justice, Standing for NGOs, Aarhus Convention.
language
English
id
3799394
date added to LUP
2013-06-13 15:38:36
date last changed
2013-06-13 15:38:36
@misc{3799394,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis I will look at how access to justice for NGOs has changed in the EU after the Union became a party to the Aarhus Convention. The Aarhus Convention gives individuals and environmental NGOs access to justice regarding access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making, but also in regard to private persons or public authorities in breach of national environmental law. EU has implemented the Convention through directives and regulations and the ECJ has played an important role as gap filler in recent case law. NGOs have in these cases been given wider access to justice in environmental matters at national level. But when it comes to access to justice at EU level, the legal situation has not changed much from before the Aarhus Convention. It is still practically impossible for an NGO to be directly and individually concerned in environmental matters.

If the provisions on access to justice in the Aarhus Convention would be fully implemented at EU level and in its Member States, there would perhaps be a real possibility for the public to be involved in enforcing environmental law and protecting the environment. Then one could perhaps even say that the environment has been given a voice.}},
  author       = {{Mejstad, Alva}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Giving the Environment a Voice? Access to Justice for NGOs in the EU post the Aarhus Convention}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}