Orhuso konvencijos įgyvendinimas: Europos Sąjungos teisė ir Lietuvos administracinė justicija ; Implementation of the Arhus convention: European Union law and administrative justice of Lithuania

Abstract

The Arhus Convention was ratified by the European Union on the 25th of June 1998 and approved by the Council Decision of 17 February 2005. The Convention regulates three main issues: the access to information concerning the environment; the public participation in decision-making and the access to justice in environmental matters. The European Union in pursue of ensuring adequate implementation and protection of "the right to environment" in the scope of general human rights protection has adopted two directives in order to implement the provisions of the Arhus Convention: 1) Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC; 2) Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/ECC and 96/61/EC. The article reviews the process which the European Union is currently undergoing for the purpose of adequate implementation of the Arhus Convention and examines legal measures employed by the European Union in pursue of adequate and effective implementation of provisions set by the Arhus Convention in the law of the European Union as well as in the Member States domestic legislation.