Baltic and European news
MEPs strengthen draft green democracy rules
2020, 19/01/06The European parliament voted on Wednesday to strengthen publicaccess to environmental information from EU institutions. The assembly was voting in a second reading on legislation applying the UN Århus convention on environmental information and justice to the EU institutions.
Amendments passed include better information on infringement proceedings and the participation of the public in environmental
policy-making. Banks such as the European investment bank would be covered by the law. A proposal to give NGOs the right to challenge member states in the European court of justice was rejected by a small majority of MEPs.
Environmental group EEB argued that the vote would lead to "more environmentally sound decision-making" by the EU. However it said giving NGOs greater access to environmental justice would have "brought some balance" between those who defend private and public interests.
* In other business, the assembly debated on the outcome of last December's MONTREAL TALKS ON CLIMATE CHANGE. In a resolution adopted on Wednesday MEPs urged the EU to start "intensive dialogue" in the run-up to the first meeting of the Parties to the protocol about the post-2012 period in May. Also present during the debate, environment commissioner Stavros Dimas echoed this call by stressing that debate on future targets must "evolve now".
* MEPs endorsed a conciliation deal reached in October on the revised law on BATHING WATERS. The agreement, which was backed by EU ministers on 22 December, can now enter into force.
EU recreational marine industry group Eurmig welcomed the stricter water quality standards imposed by the revised law, as well as its "balanced approach". The trade body described the rules as "fully workable". Under the law, all European waters must achieve a quality standard rated as "sufficient" by 2015.
* The assembly also approved a conciliation agreement on MINING WASTE reached in November and endorsed by the council in December (ED 24/11/05 http://www.environmentdaily.com/19891). Again, the directive is now cleared to enter into force.
Follow-up: European parliament http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/public/default_en.htm, tel: +32 2 284 2111,
plus draft regulation http://www.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade3?PUBREF=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A6-2005-0381+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y on the proposed regulation applying the Århus convention to EU institutions
and amendments http://www.europarl.eu.int/sce/server/internet/amend_motions_texts/sce_amend_motions_texts_main_02.jsp?ref=A6-0381/2005,
resolution http://www.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade3?TYPE-DOC=MOTION&REF=B6-2006-0027&MODE=SIP&L=EN on climate change with amendments http://www.europarl.eu.int/sce/server/internet/amend_motions_texts/sce_amend_motions_texts_main_02.jsp?ref=B6-0027/2006,
and European parliament press release on bathing waters
See also Dimas speech http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/9&format
and reactions from EEB http://www.eeb.org/press/pr_vote_EP_Aarhus_Regulation_180106.htm
and Eurmig http://www.environmentdaily.com/docs/60119b.doc.
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