CELEX: 51998PC0344
Language: el
Date: 1998-06-02
Title: Πρόταση απόφασης του Συμβουλίου για την υπογραφή από την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα της Σύμβασης της ΟΕΕ του ΟΗΕ σχετικά με την πρόσβαση στην πληροφόρηση, τη συμμετοχή του κοινού και την πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη για περιβαλλοντικά θέματα

ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΩΝ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΩΝ
                                                 Βρυξέλλες, 02.06.1998
                                                 COM(1998) 344 τελικό
Πρόταση απόφασης του ΣυμΡουλίου για την υπογραφή από την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα
της ΣύμΡασης της ΟΕΕ του ΟΗΕ σχετικά με την πρόσβαση στην πληροφόρηση, τη
συμμετοχή του κοινού και την πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη για περιβαλλοντικά θέματα
                           (υποβληθείσα από την Επιτροπή)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---  Πρόταση απόφασης του Συμβουλίου για την υπογραφή από την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα
 της Σύμβασης της ΟΕΕ του ΟΗΕ σχετικά με την πρόσβαση στην πληροφόρηση, τη
 συμμετοχή του κοινού και την πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη για περιβαλλοντικά θέματα
                                      Αιτιολογική έκθεση
 Η Υπουργική Διάσκεψη της Σόφιας χου 1995 (διαδικασία "Περιβάλλον για την Ευρώπη"),
 με χην ενεργό συμμεχοχή όλων χων κραχών μελών και χης Επιχροπής, ενέκρινε
>προσαναχολισμούς για χην πρόσβαση σε περιβαλλονχικές πληροφορίες και τη συμμεχοχή
 χου κοινού σχη λήψη αποφάσεων για χο περιβάλλον, βάσει χης αρχής 10 της Δήλωσης χου
 Ρίο, σύμφωνα με χην οποία χα περιβαλλονχικά ζηχήμαχα ανχιμεχωπίζονχαι καλύχερα με χη
 συμμεχοχή όλων χων ενδιαφερομένων πολιχών, και συγκεκριμένα μέσω καχάλληλης
 πρόσβασης σε πληροφορίες που καχέχουν οι δημόσιες αρχές και μέσω ευκαιριών για
 συμμεχοχή στη λήψη αποφάσεων.
 Η αύξηση της πρόσβασης χου κοινού σε πληροφορίες και χης συμμεχοχής χου κοινού σχη
 λήψη αποφάσεων αναγνωρίζεχαι πράγμαχι όχι αποχελεί βασικό εργαλείο προκειμένου να
  βελχιωθεί η ευαισθηχοποίηση χου κοινού και να ενθαρρυνθεί η καλύχερη εφαρμογή χης
 περιβαλλονχικής νομοθεσίας, με χην ανάλογη υποσχήριξη χων περιβαλλονχικών πολιχικών
  και χης αποχελεσμαχικόχηχας χους.
  Ως αποχέλεσμα πολιχικής δέσμευσης που ανελήφθη σχη Σόφια, δρομολογήθηκαν
  διαπραγμαχεύσεις σχο πλαίσιο χης Οικονομικής Επιχροπής χων Ηνωμένων Εθνών
  (ΟΕΕ/ΟΗΕ), με σκοπό οι προσαναχολισμοί αυχοί να μεχαχραπούν σε νομικά δεσμευχικό
  μέσο, χο οποίο θα ενισχύσει τη σημασία που πρέπει να δίδεχαι σχα θέμαχα αυχά και θα
  εξασφαλίσει αποχελεσμαχική εφαρμογή, με διεθνές νομικό κείμενο.
  Οι διαπραγμαχεύσεις άρχισαν χον Ιούνιο χου 1996, βάσει "σχοιχείων σχεδίου", χα οποία
  προπαρασκεύασε η Γραμμαχεία χης ΟΕΕ/ΟΗΕ, και έληξαν χο Μάρχιο χου 1998 με ένα
  κείμενο, χο οποίο εγκρίθηκε με συναίνεση.
  Αξίζει να σημειωθεί όχι οι μη κυβερνηχικοί οργανισμοί, χων οποίων ο ειδικός και
  αποφασισχικός ρόλος αναγνωριζόχαν σχους προσαναχολισμούς χης Σόφιας, συμμεχείχαν
  ενεργά σχις εν λόγω διαπραγμαχεύσεις ως παραχηρηχές, μαζί με όλες χις άλλες
  ανχιπροσωπείες, διαδραμάχισαν δε πολύ ενεργό ρόλο σχη διαδικασία.
   Βασιζόμενη σχους προσαναχολισμούς και διευρύνονχάς χους, η Σύμβαση αποσκοπεί βασικά
  να συμβάλει σχη "Προσχασία χου δικαιώμαχος κάθε αχόμου από χις παρούσες και
   μελλονχικές γενεές να ζει σε περιβάλλον καχάλληλο για χην υγεία και χην ευημερία χου" και
   συνίσχαχαι από χρία κύρια και συμπληρωμαχικά μέρη, χα οποία αφορούν χην πρόσβαση σε
   πληροφορίες που καχέχουν οι δημόσιες αρχές, τη συμμεχοχή χου κοινού στη λήψη
   αποφάσεων που έχουν σημανχική επίπχωση σχο περιβάλλον και χην πρόσβαση σχη
                                              Ρ
 ---pagebreak--- δικαιοσύνη. Η Σύμβαση θα είναι ανοικτή για υπογραφή σχην Υπουργική Διάσκεψη του
Aarhus, η οποία πρόκειται να λάβει χώρα χον Ιούνιο χου 1998.
Η Επιτροπή συμμετέσχε αρχικά σχη διαπραγμαχευχική διαδικασία ως παρατηρητής και,
κατόπιν της έγκρισης, χον Δεκέμβριο χου 1997, χων συμπερασμάχων χου Συμβουλίου για
την εξουσιοδότηση της Κοινότηχας να συμμεχάσχει σχις διαπραγμαχεύσεις,
ανχιπροσώπευσε χην Κοινόχηχα σε θέμαχα κοινοχικής αρμοδιόχηχας (ήχοι, χην πρόσβαση σε
περιβαλλονχικές πληροφορίες και τη συμμετοχή του κοινού σε ειδικές δραστηριότηχες) σχις
χελευχαίες χρεις διαπραγμαχευχικές συνόδους. Η συμμεχοχή χης Κοινόχηχας, αυτής
καθαυχής, είχε πράγμαχι ιδιαίχερη σημασία σε θέμαχα που αναγνωρίζεχαι όχι έχουν μεγάλη
σπουδαιόχηχα σχην κοινοχική πολιχική περιβαλλονχικής προστασίας, όπως ήδη χονιζόχαν
σχο χέχαρχο κοινοχικό πρόγραμμα δράσης για χο περιβάλλον και επαναλαμβανόχαν σχο
πέμπχο. Η σημασία που πρέπει να αποδίδεχαι σχην ευαισθηχοποίηση χου κοινού και σχη
συμμεχοχή σχη διαδικασία λήψεως αποφάσεων διαγραφόχαν πρόσφαχα επίσης σχην
ανακοίνωση χης Επιχροπής χου Οκχωβρίου 1996 σχεχικά με χην εφαρμογή χου κοινοχικού
περιβαλλονχικού δικαίου. Σχο πλαίσιο αυχό, υπάρχει μια σειρά κοινοχικών οδηγιών, μεχαξύ
χων οποίων η πλέον ουσιώδης είναι η οδηγία 90/313/ΕΟΚ σχεχικά με χην ελεύθερη
πληροφόρηση για θέμαχα περιβάλλονχος, καθώς και δύο οδηγίες που προβλέπουν
διαδικασία συμμεχοχής χου κοινού, π.χ. η οδηγία 85/337/ΕΟΚ για χην εκχίμηση χων
περιβαλλονχικών επιπχώσεων (ΕΙΑ) και η οδηγία 96/61/ΕΚ σχεχικά με χην ολοκληρωμένη
 πρόληψη και έλεγχο χης ρύπανσης (IPPC). Ως αποχέλεσμα αυχής της υφισχάμενης
 κοινοχικής νομοθεσίας και χης καχεύθυνσης πολιχικής, επί χης οποίας βασίζεχαι, καθώς και
 χης ανάγκης για επέκχαση και περαιχέρω ανάπτυξη χου εν λόγω "κεκτημένου" στην
 περιφέρεια χης ΟΕΕ/ΟΗΕ, η Κοινόχηχα ενδιαφερόχαν ιδιαίχερα να συμμεχάσχει σχις
 διαπραγμαχεύσεις αυχές. Σε σχέση με χην κοινοχική νομοθεσία, ήχαν επίσης σημανχικό να
 εξασφαλισχεί η πλήρης συνέπεια χου σχεδίου σύμβασης με χις υφισχάμενες οδηγίες, χο
 οποίο ήχαν πράγμαχι ακόμη σημανχικόχερο, αφού μεγάλο μέρος χης Σύμβασης βασίσχηκε
 σε νομοθεσία χης ΕΕ.
 Όσον αφορά χην πρόσβαση σε περιβαλλονχικές πληροφορίες, η Σύμβαση προβλέπει
 λεπχομερή δικαιώμαχα και υποχρεώσεις, ιδίως σχεχικά με χα χρονοδιαγράμμαχα για χην
 παροχή χων πληροφοριών, χους περιορισμένους λόγους για χην άρνηση χων δημοσίων
 αρχών να επιχρέψουν χην πρόσβαση σε ορισμένα είδη πληροφοριών, καθώς και ενεργά
 καθήκονχα που πρέπει να εκχελούνχαι από χις δημόσιες αρχές, ούχως ώσχε να
 εξασφαλίζεχαι ευρεία διάδοση περιβαλλονχικών πληροφοριών γενικού χαρακχήρα. Τα
 ανωχέρω όνχως βελχιώνουν και συμπληρώνουν χην οδηγία 90/313/ΕΟΚ σχεχικά με χην
 ελεύθερη πληροφόρηση για θέμαχα περιβάλλονχος, χης οποίας η αναθεώρηση αναμένεχαι
 να αρχίσει σύνχομα.
 Όσον αφορά τη συμμεχοχή χου κοινού σχις λήψεις αποφάσεων, η Σύμβαση προβλέπει
  συνολική διαδικασία συμμεχοχής χου κοινού σε αποφάσεις για ειδικές δρασχηριόχηχες οι
  οποίες έχουν σημανχική επίπχωση σχο περιβάλλον, μέσω χης οποίας ενημερώνεχαι χο κοινό
  και έχει ευκαιρίες να συμμεχάσχει σε όλα χα σχάδια χης διαδικασίας, ενδεχομένως δε χο
  αποχέλεσμα χης συμμεχοχής αυχής χου κοινού θα λαμβάνεχαι δεόνχως υπόψη σχην χελική
 ---pagebreak--- απόφαση. Έμπνευση για χο καθεσχώς αυχό απεχέλεσε σε μεγάλο βαθμό η υφισχάμενη
νομοθεσία της ΕΕ, τόσο ώστε η διαδικασία συμμετοχής του κοινού, που προβλέπεχαι επί
του παρόντος στις οδηγίες ΕΙΑ και IRRC να συγχωνευθούν σε μία, το δε πεδίο εφαρμογής
της διαδικασίας αυτής είναι απλώς το άθροισμα των αντιστοίχων πεδίων εφαρμογής των
ανωτέρω δύο οδηγιών.
Επιπλέον, η Σύμβαση προβλέπει επίσης μια ελαφρύτερη διαδικασία, που επιτρέπει έναν
ορισμένο βαθμό συμμετοχής του κοινού όσον αφορά σχέδια, προγράμματα και πολιτικές
που σχετίζονται με το περιβάλλον, καθώς και γλώσσα με χαρακτήρα σύσχασης για χην
προπαρασκευή εκχελεσχικών κανονισμών και/ή νομικά δεσμευχικών κειμένων γενικής
εφαρμογής.
Τέλος, για χην πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη, η σύμβαση περιέχει ορισμένες διατάξεις, με τις
οποίες εξασφαλίζεχαι όχι, σχο πλαίσιο χου εθνικού δικαίου, χο κοινό δύναχαι να διαθέχει
καχάλληλη πρόσβαση σχη δικαιοσύνη, σε εικαζόμενη παραβίαση χων δικαιωμάχων χου για
πρόσβαση σχην πληροφόρηση. Ομοίως, χο ενδιαφερόμενο κοινό, σε περίπχωση εικαζόμενης
παραβίασης της διαδικασίας συμμετοχής του κοινού, που προβλέπεται στη Σύμβαση, πρέπει
να διαθέτει κατάλληλη πρόσβαση σχη δικαιοσύνη. Επιπλέον, και σύμφωνα με χους όρους
που καθορίζονχαι σχο εθνικό δίκαιο, η Σύμβαση προβλέπει πρόσβαση σχη δικαιοσύνη για
χην προσβολή πράξεων και παραλήψεων από πρόσωπα ιδιωχικού δικαίου και δημόσιες
αρχές, οι οποίες συνισχούν παράβαση διαχάξεων χου εθνικού περιβαλλονχικού δικαίου.
Πρέπει επίσης να μνημονευθεί ένα επιπρόσθεχο στοιχείο, χο οποίο συνηγορεί υπέρ της
υπογραφής της Σύμβασης από την Κοινότηχα, εφόσον η Σύμβαση καλύπχει χα κοινοχικά
θεσμικά όργανα, χα οποία περιλαμβάνονχαι σχον ορισμό χων "δημοσίων αρχών", μαζί με χις
εθνικές, περιφερειακές και χοπικές δημόσιες αρχές. Αυτή, πράγμαχι, είναι η πρώχη φορά
που εφαρμόζεχαι μια διεθνής σύμβαση σχα κοινοχικά θεσμικά όργανα, αυχά καθαυχά. Επ'
αυχού, και προκειμένου να επισημανθεί η ανάγκη να εξεχάζονχαι και να λαμβάνονχαι υπόψη
οι ιδιαιχερόχηχες χου κοινοχικού θεσμικού συσχήμαχος και της έννομης χάξης χου, ενόψει
χης σύναψης χης Σύμβασης από χην Κοινότηχα, επισυνάπχεχαι σχην παρούσα πρόχαση
υπογραφής σχέδιο δήλωσης της Κοινότητας κατά την υπογραφή. Επί του παρόντος, μεταξύ
 της υπογραφής και της σύναψης, η Επιτροπή, μαζί με άλλα ενδιαφερόμενα κοινοτικά
 θεσμικά όργανα, θα προβεί σε προσεκτική εκχίμηση χων χριών πυλώνων χης Σύμβασης που
 συνδέονχαι με χο κοινοχικά θεσμικό σύστημα και θα εξεχάσει, καχά συνέπεια, καχά πόσον
 θα χρειασχεί τυχόν επιφύλαξη ή ερμηνευτική δήλωση, καχά χην κύρωση χης Σύμβασης, για
 χον σκοπό χης εφαρμογής χης σχα κοινοχικά θεσμικά όργανα.
Όπως συνάγεχαι από χα ανωχέρω, η Κοινότηχα πρέπει, επομένως, να υπογράψει χη
 Σύμβαση.
 ---pagebreak---    Πρόταση απόφασης του Συμβουλίου για την υπογραφή από την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα της
Σύμβασης της ΟΕΕ του ΟΗΕ σχετικά με την πρόσβαση στην πληροφόρηση, τη συμμετοχή του
              κοινού και την πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη για περιβαλλοντικά θέματα
ΤΟ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΣ ΕΝΩΣΗΣ
Έχοντας υπόψη:
τη συνθήκη για την ίδρυση της Ευρωπαϊκής Κοινότητας,
χην πρόταση της Επιτροπής,
εκτιμώνχας:
όχι η Υπουργική Διάσκεψη χης Σόφιας χου 1995 "Περιβάλλον για χην Ευρώπη" ενέκρινε χους
προσαναχολισμούς της Σόφιας σχετικά με την πρόσβαση στην περιβαλλοντική πληροφόρηση και χη
συμμεχοχή χου κοινού στη λήψη αποφάσεων για το περιβάλλον και συμφώνησε να δρομολογήσει
διαπραγματεύσεις, στο πλαίσιο της Οικονομικής Επιτροπής για την Ευρώπη του Οργανισμού
Ηνωμένων Εθνών, για τη μετατροπή των προσανατολισμών αυτών σε νομικά δεσμευτικό μέσο,
 ότι η Επιτροπή, εξ ονόματος της Κοινότητας και σύμφωνα με τις διαπραγματευτικές οδηγίες που
 καθορίζονται στα συμπεράσματα του Συμβουλίου της 4ης Δεκεμβρίου 1997, συμμετέσχε στις εν
 λόγω διαπραγματεύσεις,
 ότι η πρόσβαση σε περιβαλλοντικές πληροφορίες και η συμμετοχή του κοινού στη λήψη
 αποφάσεων για το περιβάλλον έχουν ιδιαίτερη σημασία στην πολιτική περιβαλλοντικής προστασίας,
 όπως αναγνωρίζεται από το πέμπτο κοινοτικό πρόγραμμα δράσης για το περιβάλλον και ορισμένες
 οδηγίες της ΕΚ· ότι αποτελούν πράγματι ουσιώδη μέσα για να βελτιωθεί η ευαισθητοποίηση του
 κοινού και να εξασφαλιστεί η καλύτερη εφαρμογή της περιβαλλοντικής νομοθεσίας,
 ότι οι διαπραγματεύσεις ολοκληρώθηκαν τον Μάρτιο του 1998 και η Σύμβαση πρόκειται να είναι
 ανοικτή για υπογραφή τον Ιούνιο του 1998 στην Υπουργική Διάσκεψη "Περιβάλλον για την
 Ευρώπη" του Aarhus,
 ότι θα ήταν σκόπιμο να υπογράψει η Κοινότητα την παρούσα Σύμβαση, με την προοπτική
 μεταγενέστερης σύναψης της,
 ΑΠΟΦΑΣΙΖΕΙ
                                         ΑΡΘΡΟ ΜΟΝΟ
  Η Πρόεδρος του Συμβουλίου εξουσιοδοτείται να ορίσει το(τα) αρμόδιο(α) πρόσωπο(α) για να
  υπογράψει, εκ μέρους της Ευρωπαϊκής Κοινότητας, τη Σύμβαση σχετικά με την πρόσβαση σε
  πληροφορίες, τη συμμετοχή του κοινού και την πρόσβαση στη δικαιοσύνη για περιβαλλοντικά
  θέματα, επιφυλασσόμενο ως προς την έγκριση, και να του(τους) εκχωρήσει τις αναγκαίες εξουσίες
  για τον σκοπό αυτόν. Το κείμενο στης Σύμβασης επισυνάπτεται στην παρούσα απόφαση.
                                                                                Βρυξέλλες,
                                                                                Για το Συμβούλιο,
                                                                                 Ο Πρόεδρος
 ---pagebreak---                    ΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑΣ
                ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΥΜΒΑΣΗΣ
                           ΣΤΑ ΘΕΣΜΙΚΑ ΤΗΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΑ
                                         ΣΧΕΔΙΟ
Η Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα επιθυμεί να εκφράσει τη μεγάλη ικανοποίηση της για την παρούσα
Σύμβαση, η οποία αποτελεί ουσιαστικό βήμα προς τα εμπρός για την περαιτέρω ενθάρρυνση
και υποστήριξη της περιβαλλοντικής ευαισθητοποίησης του κοινού και για την καλύτερη
εφαρμογή της περιβαλλοντικής νομοθεσίας στην περιφέρεια της ΟΕΕ/ΟΗΕ, σύμφωνα με
την αρχή της αειφόρου ανάπτυξης.
Υποστηρίζοντας πλήρως τους στόχους που επιδιώκονται με τη Σύμβαση και θεωρώντας ότι
η ίδια η Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα συμμετέχει ενεργά στην προσχασία χου περιβάλλονχος,
μέσω ευρείας και εξελισσόμενης δέσμης νομοθεχικών διαχάξεων, θεωρήθηκε σημανχικό,
όχι μόνον να υπογραφεί η Σύμβαση σε κοινοτικό επίπεδο, αλλά και να καλυφθούν και χα
δικά χης θεσμικά όργανα, μαζί με χις εθνικές δημόσιες αρχές.
Αν και αποδέχεχαι να καλύπχεχαι από χον ορισμό χων δημοσίων αρχών, η Κοινόχηχα
δηλώνει όχι, λαμβανομένου υπόψη χου κοινοχικού θεσμικού συσχήμαχος και χης έννομης
χάξης του θα εφαρμοστεί, όπως ενδείκνυται, η διάταξη της Σύμβασης που αφορά τα θεσμικά
όργανα που ενεργούν υπό δικαστική ή νομοθετική ιδιότηχα.
 Ενχός χου ιδίου προαναφερόμενου θεσμικού και νομικού πλαισίου και λόγω επίσης χων
 υποχρεώσεων της συνθήκης του Άμσχερνχαμ όσον αφορά μελλονχική νομοθεσία για τη
 διαφάνεια, η Κοινότητα δηλώνει επίσης ότι χα κοινοχικά θεσμικά όργανα θα εφαρμόσουν χη
 Σύμβαση στο πλαίσιο των υφισταμένων και μελλονχικών κανόνων χους σχεχικά με χην
 πρόσβαση σε έγγραφα και άλλων σχεχικών κανόνων κοινοχικού δικαίου σχο πεδίο που
 καλύπτεται από τη Σύμβαση.
                                           ν/ι
 ---pagebreak--- UNITED
NATIONS                                                                          Ε
               Economic and S ocial                      Distr.
                                                         GENERAL·- ·•
               Council
                                                         ECÉ/CEP/43
                                                         21 April 1998
                                                         ORIGINAL : ENGLISH
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Fourth Ministerial Conference
"Environment for Europe",
Aarhus, Denmark, 23-25 June 1998
           CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
     IN DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS */
          The Parties to this Convention  ,
          Recalling   principle 1 of the Stockholm Declaration on the Human
   Environment,
          Recalling also  principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and
   Development,
          Recalling further General Assembly resolutions 37/7 of 28 October 1982
   on the World Charter for Nature and 45/94 of 14 December 1990 on the need to
   ensure a healthy environment for the well-being of individuals,
          Recalling the European Charter on Environment and Health adopted at
   the First European Conference on Environment and Health of the World Health
   Organization in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, on 8 December 1989,
           V     Final text endorsed by the Committee on Environmental Policy at
    its special session on 16-18 March 1998 for adoption at the Ministerial
   Conference "Environment for Europe".
    GE.98-30998
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 2
         Affirming the need to protect, preserve and improve the state of the
  environment and to ensure sustainable and environmentally sound development,
         Recognizing that adequate protection of the environment is essential to
  human well-being and the enjoyment of basic human rights, including the right
  to life itself,
         Recognizing also that every person has the right to live in an
  environment adequate to his or her health and well-being, and the duty, both
  individually and in association with others, to protect and improve the
  environment for the benefit of present and future generations,
         Considering that, to be able to assert this right and observe this duty,
  citizens must have access to information, be entitled to participate in
 ' decision-making and have access to justice in environmental matters, and
  acknowledging in this regard that citizens may need assistance in order to
  exercise their rights,
         Recognizing that, in the field of the environment, improved access to
  information and public participation in decision-making enhance the quality
  and the implementation of decisions, contribute to public awareness of
  environmental issues, give the public the opportunity to express its concerns
  and enable public authorities to take due account of such concerns,
         Aiming thereby to further the accountability of and transparency in
  decision-making and to strengthen public support for decisions on the
  environment,
         Recognizing the desirability of transparency in all branches of
  government and inviting legislative bodies to implement the principles of this
  Convention in their proceedings,
         Recognizing also that the public needs to be aware of the procedures for
  participation in environmental decision-making, have free access to them and
  know how to use them,
          Recognizing further the importance of the respective roles that
  individual citizens, non-governmental organizations and the private sector can
  play in environmental protection,
          Desiring to promote environmental education to further the understanding
  of the environment and sustainable development and to encourage widespread
  public awareness of, and participation in, decisions affecting the environment
   and sustainable development,
          Noting , in this context, the importance of making use of the media and
   of electronic or other, future forms of communication,
          Recognizing the importance of fully integrating environmental-
   considerations in governmental decision-making and the consequent need for
   public authorities to be in possession of accurate, comprehensive and up-to-
   date environmental information,
                                          2_
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                      page 3
       Acknowledging that public authorities hold environmental information in
the public interest,
       Concerned that effective judicial mechanisms should be accessible to the
public, including organizations, so that its legitimate interests are
protected and the law is enforced,
       Noting the importance of adequate product information being provided to
consumers to enable them to make informed environmental choices,
       Recognizing the concern of the public about the deliberate release of
genetically modified organisms into the environment and the need for increased
transparency and greater public participation in decision-making in this
field,
       Convinced that the implementation of this Convention will contribute to
strengthening democracy in the region of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE),
       Conscious of the role played in this respect by ECE and recalling,       inter
alia , the ECE Guidelines on Access to Environmental Information and Public
Participation in Environmental Decision-making endorsed in the Ministerial
Declaration adopted at the Third Ministerial Conference "Environment for
Europe" in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 25 October 1995,
        Bearing in mind the relevant provisions in the Convention on
Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, done at Espoo,
 Finland, on 25 February 1991, and the Convention on the Transboundary Effects
of Industrial Accidents and the Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, both done at Helsinki on
 17 March 1992, and other regional conventions,
        Conscious that the adoption of this Convention will have contributed to
the further strengthening of the "Environment for Europe" process and to the
 results of the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Aarhus, Denmark, in June 1998,
        Have agreed as follows:
                                       Article 1
                                       OBJECTIVE
        In order to contribute to the protection of the right of every person of
 present and future generations to live in an environment adéquate to his or
 her health and well-being, each Party shall guarantee the rights of access to
 information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in
 environmental matters in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
                                        1
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 4.
                                         Article 2
                                        DEFINITIONS
         For the purposes of this Convention,
  1.     "Party" means, unless the text otherwise indicates, a Contracting Party
 to this Convention;
  2.     "Public authority" means:
          (a)   Government at national, regional and other level;
          (b)   Natural or legal persons performing public administrative
  functions under national law, including specific duties, activities or
  services in relation to the environment;
          (c)   Any other natural or legal persons having public responsibilities
  or functions, or providing public services, in relation to the environment,
  under the control of a body or person falling within subparagraphs (a) or (b)
  above;
          (d)   The institutions of any regional economic integration
  organization referred to in article 17 which is a Party to this Convention.
  This definition does not include bodies or institutions acting in a
  judicial or legislative capacity;
  3.     "Environmental information" means any information in written, visual,
  aural, electronic or any other material form on:
          (a)   The state of elements of the environment, such as air and
  atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites, biological
  diversity and its components, including genetically modified organisms, and
  the interaction among these elements;
          (b)    Factors, such as substances, energy, noise and radiation, and
  activities or measures, including administrative measures, environmental
  agreements, policies, legislation, plans and programmes, affecting or likely
  to affect the elements of the environment within the scope of subparagraph (a)
  above, and cost-benefit and other economic analyses and assumptions used in
  environmental decision-making;
           (c)   The state of human health and safety, conditions of human life,
   cultural sites and built structures, inasmuch as they are or may be affected
   by the state of the elements of the environment or, through these elements,, by
   the factors, activities or measures referred to in subparagraph (b) above;
   4.     "The public" means one or more natural or legal persons, and, -in
   accordance with national legislation or practice, their associations,
   organizations or groups;
                                          V
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                      page 5
5.     "The public concerned" means the public affected or likely to be
affected by, or having an interest in, the environmental decision-making; for
the purposes of this definition, non-governmental organizations promoting
environmental protection and meeting any requirements under national law shall
be deemed to have an interest.
                                       Article 3
                                  GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.     Each Party shall take the necessary legislative, regulatory and other
measures, including measures to achieve compatibility between the provisions
implementing the information, public participation and access-to-justice
provisions in this Convention, as well as proper enforcement measures, to
establish and maintain a clear, transparent and consistent framework to
implement the provisions of this Convention.
2.     Each Party shall endeavour to ensure that officials and authorities
assist and provide guidance to the public in seeking access to information, in
facilitating participation in decision-making and in seeking access to justice
in environmental matters.
3.     Each Party shall promote environmental education and environmental
awareness among the public, especially on how to obtain access to information,
to participate in decision-making and to obtain access to justice in
environmental matters.
4.     Each Party shall provide for appropriate recognition of and support to
associations, organizations or groups promoting environmental protection and
ensure that its national legal system is consistent with this obligation.
5.     The provisions of this Convention shall not affect the right of a Party
to maintain or introduce measures providing for broader access to information,
more extensive public participation in decision-making and wider access to
justice in environmental matters than required by this Convention.
6.     This Convention shall not require any derogation from existing rights of
access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters.
7.     Each Party shall promote the application of the principles of this
Convention in international environmental decision-making processes and within
the framework of international organizations in matters relating to the
environment.
 8.      Each Party shall ensure that persons exercising their rights in
conformity with the provisions of this Convention shall not be penalized,
persecuted or harassed in any way for their involvement. This provision shall
 not affect the powers of national courts to award reasonable costs in judicial
proceedings.
                                         S~
 ---pagebreak--- ÊCE/CEP/43
page 6
  9.     Within the scope of the relevant provisions of this Convention, the
 public shall have access to information, have the possibility to participate
  in decision-making and have access to justice in environmental matters without
 discrimination as to citizenship, nationality or domicile and, in the case of
 a legal person, without discrimination as to where it has its- registered seat
 or an effective centre of its activities.
                                         Article 4
                           ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL   INFORMATION
  1.     Each Party shall ensure that, subject to the following paragraphs of
 this article, public authorities, in response to a request for environmental
  information, make such information     available to the public , within the
  framework of national legislation, including, where requested and subject to
  subparagraph (b) below, copies of the actual documentation containing or
  comprising such information:
          (a)   Without an interest having to be stated;
          (b)   In the form requested unless:
                 (i)   It is reasonable for the public authority to make it
                       available in another form, in which case reasons shall be
                       given for making it available in that form; or
                 (ii)  The information is already publicly available in another
                       form.
  2.     The environmental information referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be
  made available as soon as possible and at the latest within one month after
  the request has been submitted, unless the volume and the complexity of the
  information justify an extension of this period up to two months after the
  request. The applicant shall be informed of any extension and of the reasons
  justifying it.
   3.     A request for environmental information may be refused if:
           (a)   The public authority to which the request is addressed does not
  hold the environmental information requested;
           (b)   The request is manifestly unreasonable or formulated in too
   general a manner; or
           (c)   The request concerns material in the course of completion or
   concerns internal communications of public authorities where such an exemption
   is provided for in national law or customary practice, taking into account the
   public interest served by disclosure.
   4.     A request for environmental information may be refused if the disclosure
   would adversely affect:
                                           ί
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                      page 7
       (a)    The confidentiality of the proceedings of public authorities,
where such confidentiality is provided for under national law;
       (b)    International relations, national defence or public security;
       (c)    The course of justice, the ability of a person to receive a fair
trial or the ability of a public authority to conduct an enquiry of a criminal
or disciplinary nature;
       (d)    The confidentiality of commercial and industrial information,
where such confidentiality is protected by law in order to protect a
legitimate economic interest. Within this framework, information on emissions
which is relevant for the protection of the environment shall be disclosed;
        (e)   Intellectual property rights;
        (f)   The confidentiality of personal data and/or files relating to a
natural person where that person has not consented to the disclosure of the
information to the public, where such confidentiality is provided for in
national law;
        (g)   The interests of a third party which has supplied the information
requested without that party being under or capable of being put under a legal
obligation to do so, and where that party does not consent to the release of
the material; or
        (h)   The environment to which the information relates, such as the
breeding sites of rare species.
The aforementioned grounds for refusal shall be interpreted in a restrictive
way, taking into account the public interest served by disclosure        and taking
into account whether the information requested relates to emissions into the
environment .
5.     Where a public authority does not hold the environmental information
requested, this public authority shall, as promptly as possible, inform the
applicant of the public authority to which it believes it is possible to apply
 for the information requested or transfer the request to that authority and
inform the applicant accordingly.
 6.     Each Party shall ensure that, if information exempted from disclosure
 under paragraphs 3 (c) and 4 above can be" separated out without prejudice to
 the confidentiality of the information exempted, public authorities make
 available the remainder of the environmental information that has been
 requested.
 7.     A refusal of a request shall be in writing if the request was in writing
 or the applicant so requests. A refusal shall state the reasons for the
 refusal and give information on access to the review procedure provided for in
 accordance with article 9. The refusal shall be made as soon as possible and
 at the latest within one month, unless the complexity of the information
                                         9-
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 8
 justifies an extension of this period up to two months after the request. The
 applicant shall be informed of any extension and of the reasons justifying it
 8.     Each Party may allow its public authorities to make a charge for
 supplying information, but such charge shall not exceed a reasonable amount.
 Public authorities intending to make such a charge for supplying information
 shall make available to applicants a schedule of charges which may be levied,
 indicating the circumstances in which they may be levied or waived and when
 the supply of information is conditional on the advance payment of such a
 charge.
                                        Article 5
              COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
  1.    Each Party shall ensure that:
         (a)   Public authorities possess and update environmental information
  which is relevant to their functions;
         (b)   Mandatory systems are established so that there is an adequate
  flow of information to public authorities about proposed and existing
  activities which may significantly affect the environment;
         (c)   In the event of any imminent threat to human health or the
  environment, whether caused by human activities or due to natural causes, all
  information which could enable the public to take measures to prevent or
  mitigate harm arising from the threat and is held by a public authority is
  disseminated immediately and without delay to members of the public who may be
  affected.
  2.     Each Party shall ensure that, within the framework of national
  legislation, the way in which public authorities make environmental
  information available to the public is transparent and that environmental
  information is effectively accessible,     inter alia, by:
         (a)    Providing sufficient information to the public about the type and
  scope of environmental information held by the relevant public authorities,
  the basic terms and conditions under which such information is made available
  and accessible, and the process by which it can be obtained;
          (b)   Establishing and maintaining practical arrangements, such as:
                 (i)     Publicly accessible lists, registers or files;
                 (ii)    Requiring officials to support the public in seeking
                         access to information under this Convention; and
                 (iii)   The identification of points of contact; and
                                          ζ
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                       page 9
        (c)   Providing access to the environmental information contained in
lists, registers or files as referred to in subparagraph (b) (i) above free of
charge.
3.     Each Party shall ensure that environmental information progressively
becomes available in electronic databases which are easily accessible to the
public through public telecommunications networks. Information accessible in
this form should include:
        (a)   Reports on the state of the environment, as referred to in
paragraph 4 below;
        (b)   Texts of legislation on or relating to the environment;
        (c)   As appropriate, policies, plans and programmes on or relating to
the environment, and environmental agreements; and
        (d)   Other information, to the extent that the availability of such
information in this form would facilitate the application of national law
implementing this Convention,
provided that such information is already available in electronic form.
4.      Each Party shall, at regular intervals not exceeding three or four
years, publish and disseminate a national report on the state of the
environment, including information on the quality of the environment and
information on pressures on the environment.
5.      Each Party shall take measures within the framework of its legislation
for the purpose of disseminating,      inter alia :
         (a)   Legislation and policy documents such as documents on strategies,
policies, programmes and action plans relating to the environment, and
progress reports on their implementation, prepared at various levels of
government;
         (b)   International treaties, conventions and agreements on
environmental issues; and
         (c)   Other significant international documents on environmental issues,
 as appropriate.
 6.     Each Party shall encourage operators whose activities have a significant
 impact on the environment to inform the public regularly of the environmental
 impact of their activities and products, where appropriate within the
 framework of voluntary eco-labelling or eco-auditing schemes or by other
 means.
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 10
 7.      Each Party shall:
         (a)    Publish the facts and analyses of facts which it considers
  relevant and important in framing major environmental policy proposals;
         (b)    Publish, or otherwise make accessible, available explanatory
 material on it's dealings with the public in matters falling within the scope
 of this Convention; and
          (c)   Provide in an appropriate form information on the performance of
 public functions- or the provision of public services relating to the
 environment by government at all levels.
  8.     Each Party shall develop mechanisms with a view to ensuring that
  sufficient product information is made available to the public in a manner
  which enables consumers to make informed environmental choices.
  9.     Each Party shall take steps to establish progressively, taking into
  account international processes where appropriate, a coherent, nationwide
  system of pollution inventories or registers on a structured, computerized and
  publicly accessible database compiled through standardized reporting.        Such
  system may include inputs, releases and transfers of a specified range of
  substances and products, including water, energy and resource use, from a
  specified range of activities to environmental media and to on-site and off-
  site treatment and disposal sites.
  10.    Nothing in this article may prejudice the right of Parties to refuse to
  disclose certain environmental information in accordance with article 4,
  paragraphs 3 and 4.
                                         Article 6
                PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECISIONS ON SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
   1.     Each Party:
           (a)   Shall apply the provisions of this article with respect to
  decisions on whether to permit proposed activities listed in annex I;
           (b)   Shall, in accordance with its national law, also apply the
  provisions of this article to decisions on proposed activities not listed in
   annex I which may have a significant effect on the environment. To this end,
   Parties shall determine whether such a proposed activity is subject to these
   provisions; and
           (c)   May decide, on a case-by-case basis if so provided under national
   law, not to apply the provisions of this article to proposed activities
   serving national defence purposes, if that Party deems that such application
   would have an adverse effect on these purposes.
                                             Jo
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                       page 11
2.     The public concerned shall be informed, either by public notice or
individually as appropriate, early in an environmental decision-making
procedure, and in an adequate, timely and effective manner,       inter alia,  of:
       (a)    The proposed activity and the application on which a decision will
be taken;
       (b)    The nature of possible decisions or the draft decision;
       (c)    The public authority responsible for making the decision;
       (d)    The envisaged procedure, including, as and when this information
can be provided:
              (i)     The commencement of the procedure;
               (ii)   The opportunities for the public to participate;
               (iii)  The time and venue of any envisaged public hearing;
               (iv)   An indication of the public authority from which relevant
                      information can be obtained and where the relevant
                      information has been deposited for examination by the.
                      public;
               (v)    An indication of the relevant public authority or any other
                      official body to which comments or questions can be
                      submitted and of the time schedule for transmittal of
                      comments or questions; and
               (vi)   An indication of what environmental information relevant to
                      the proposed activity is available; and
        (e)   The fact that the' activity is subject to a national or
transboundary environmental impact assessment procedure.
3.     The public participation procedures shall include reasonable time-frames
for the different phases, allowing sufficient time for informing the public in
accordance with paragraph 2 above and for the public to prepare and
participate effectively during the environmental decision-making.
 4.    Each Party shall provide for early public participation, when all
options are open and effective public participation can take place.
 5.     Each Party should, where appropriate, encourage prospective applicants
to identify the public concerned, to enter into discussions, and to provide
 information regarding the objectives of their application before applying for
a permit.
 6.     Each Party shall require the competent public authorities to give the
 public concerned access for examination, upon request where so required under
 national law , free of charge and as soon as it becomes available,       to all
                                          ff
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 12
 information relevant to the decision-making referred to in this article that
 is available at the time of the public participation procedure,        without
 prejudice to the right of Parties to refuse to disclose certain information in
 accordance with article 4, paragraphs 3 and 4. The relevant information shall
  include at least, and without prejudice to the provisions of article 4:
         (a)    A description of the site and the physical and technical
  Characteristics of the proposed activity, including an estimate of the
 expected residues and emissions;
         (b)    A description of the significant effects of the proposed activity
  on the environment;
         (c)    A description of the measures envisaged to prevent and/or reduce
  the effects, including emissions;
          (d)   A non-technical summary of the above;
          (e)   An outline of the main alternatives studied by the applicant     ; and
          (f)    In accordance with national legislation, the main reports and
  advice issued to the public authority at the time when the public concerned
  shall be informed in accordance with paragraph 2 above.
  7.     Procedures for public participation shall allow the public to submit, in
  writing or, as appropriate, at a public hearing or inquiry with the applicant
  any comments, information, analyses or opinions that it considers relevant to
  the proposed activity.
   8.    Each Party shall ensure that in the decision due account is taken of the
   outcome of the public participation.
   9.     Each Party shall ensure that, when the decision has been taken by the
   public authority, the public is promptly informed of the decision in
   accordance with the appropriate procedures. Each Party shall make accessible
   to the public the text of the decision along with the reasons and
   considerations on which the decision is based.
   10.    Each Party shall ensure that, when a public authority reconsiders or
   updates the operating conditions for an activity referred to in
   paragraph 1, the provisions of paragraphs 2 to 9 of this article are applied
   mutatis mutandis , and where appropriate.
   11.    Each Party shall, within the framework of its national law, apply, to
   the extent feasible and appropriate, provisions of this article to decisions
   on whether to permit the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms
   into the environment.
                                              \L·
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                       page 13
                                       Article 7
          PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CONCERNING PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES
                             RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
       Each Party shall make appropriate practical and/or other      provisions for
the public to participate during the preparation of plans and programmes
relating to the environment, within a transparent and fair framework, having
provided the necessary information to the public. Within this framework,
article 6, paragraphs 3, 4 and 8, shall be applied. The public which may
participate shall be identified by the relevant public authority, taking into
account the objectives of this Convention. To the extent appropriate, each
Party shall endeavour to provide opportunities for public participation in the
preparation of policies relating to the environment.
                                       Article 8
  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING THE PREPARATION OF EXECUTIVE REGULATIONS AND/OR
             GENERALLY APPLICABLE LEGALLY BINDING NORMATIVE INSTRUMENTS
        Each Party shall strive to promote effective public participation at an
appropriate stage, and while options are still open, during the preparation by
public authorities of executive regulations and other generally applicable
legally binding rules that may have a significant effect on the environment.
To this end, the following steps should be taken:
         (a)   Time-frames sufficient for effective participation should be
 fixed;
         (b)   Draft rules should be published or otherwise made publicly
 available; and
         (c)   The public should be given the opportunity to comment, directly or
 through representative consultative bodies.
 The result of the public participation shall be taken into account as far as
 possible.
                                        Article 9
                                    ACCESS TO JUSTICE
 1.      Each Party shall, within the framework of its national legislation,
 ensure that any person who considers that his or her request for information
 under article 4 has been ignored, wrongfully refused, whether in part or in
 full, inadequately answered, or otherwise not dealt with in accordance with
 the provisions of that article, has access to a review procedure before a
 court of law or another independent and impartial body established by law.
                                           β
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
                                                                                 v
page 14                                                                 •.
         In the circumstances where a Party provides for such a review by a court
 of law, it shall ensure that such a person also has access to an expeditious
 procedure established by law that is free of charge or inexpensive for
 reconsideration by a public authority or review by an independent and
 impartial body other than a court of law.
         Final decisions under this paragraph 1' shall be binding on the public
 authority holding the information. Reasons shall be stated in writing, at
  least where access to information is refused under this paragraph.
  2.     Each Party shall, within the framework of its national legislation,
  ensure that members of the public concerned
         (a)    Having a sufficient interest
  or, alternatively,
          (b)   Maintaining impairment of a right, where the administrative
  procedural law of a Party requires this as a precondition,
  have access to a review procedure before a court of law and/or another
  independent and impartial body established by law, to challenge the
  substantive and procedural legality of any decision, act or omission subject
  to the provisions of article 6 and, where so provided for under national law
  and without prejudice to paragraph 3 below, of other relevant provisions of
  this Convention.
         What constitutes a sufficient interest and impairment of a right shall
  be determined in accordance v/ith the requirements of national law and
  consistently with the objective of giving the public concerned wide access to
  justice within the scope of this Convention. To this end, the interest of any
  non-governmental organization meeting the requirements referred to in
  article 2, paragraph 5, shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of
  subparagraph (a) above. Such organizations shall also be deemed to have rights
  capable of being impaired for the purpose of subparagraph (b) above.
         The provisions of this paragraph 2 shall not exclude the possibility of
   a preliminary review procedure before an administrative authority and shall
   not affect the requirement of exhaustion of administrative review procedures
   prior to recourse to judicial review procedures, where such a requirement
   exists under national law.
   3.     In addition and without prejudice to the review procedures referred to
   in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, each Party shall ensure that, where they meet the
   criteria, if any, laid down in its national law, members of the public have
   access to administrative or judicial procedures to challenge acts and
   omissions by private persons and public authorities which contravene
   provisions of its national law relating to the environment.
   4.     In addition and without prejudice to paragraph 1 above, the procedures
   referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above shall provide adequate and
   effective remedies, including injunctive relief as appropriate, and be fair,
                                          \
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                       page 15
equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive. Decisions under this
article shall be given or recorded in writing. Decisions of courts, and
whenever possible of other bodies, shall be publicly accessible.
5.     In order to further the effectiveness of the provisions' of this article,
each Party shall ensure that information is provided to the public on access
to administrative and judicial review procedures and shall consider the
establishment of appropriate assistance mechanisms to remove or reduce
financial and other barriers to access to justice.
                                      Article 10
                                MEETING OF THE PARTIES
1.     The first meeting of the Parties shall be convened no later than one
year after the date of the entry into force of this Convention. Thereafter, an
ordinary meeting of the Parties shall be held at least once every two years,
unless otherwise decided by the Parties, or at the written request of any
Party, provided that, within six months of the request being communicated to
all Parties by the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe,
the said request is supported by at least one third of the Parties.
2.     At their meetings, the Parties shall keep under continuous review the
implementation of this Convention on the basis of regular reporting by the
Parties, and, with this purpose in mind, shall: ·
        (a)   Review the policies for and legal and methodological approaches to
access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters, with a view to further improving them;
        (b)   Exchange information regarding experience gained in concluding and
 implementing bilateral and multilateral agreements or other arrangements
having relevance to the purposes of this Convention and to which one or more
 of the Parties are a party;
        (c)   Seek, where appropriate, the services of relevant ECE bodies and
 other competent international bodies and specific committees in all aspects
pertinent to the achievement of the purposes of this Convention;
        (d)   Establish any subsidiary bodies as they deem necessary;
        (e)   Prepare, where appropriate, protocols to this Convention;
        (f )   Consider and adopt proposals for amendments to this Convention 'in
 accordance with the provisions of article 14;
        (g)   Consider and undertake any additional action that may be required
 for the achievement of the purposes of this Convention;
         (h)  At their first meeting, consider and by consensus adopt rules of
 procedure for their meetings and the meetings of subsidiary bodies;
                                        1^
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 16
         (i)    At their first meeting, review their experience in implementing
 the provisions of article 5, paragraph 9, and consider what steps are
 necessary to develop further the system referred to in that paragraph, taking
  into account international processes and developments, including the
 elaboration of an appropriate instrument concerning pollution, release and
 transfer registers or inventories which could be annexed to this Convention.
  3.     The Meeting of the Parties may, as necessary, consider establishing
  financial arrangements on a consensus basis.
  4.     The United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International
 Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State or regional economic integration
  organization entitled under article 17 to sign this Convention but which is
  not a Party to this Convention, and any intergovernmental organization
• qualified in the fields to which this Convention relates, shall be entitled to
  participate as observers in the meetings of the Parties.
  5.     Any non-governmental organization, qualified in the fields to which this
  Convention relates, which has informed the Executive Secretary of the Economic
  Commission for Europe of its wish to be represented at a meeting of the
  Parties shall be entitled to participate as an observer unless at least one
  third of the Parties present in the meeting raise objections.
  6.     For the purposes of paragraphs 4 and 5 above, the rules of procedure
  referred to in paragraph 2 (h) above shall provide for practical arrangements
  for the admittance procedure and other relevant terms.
                                        Article 11
                                       RIGHT TO VOTE
  1.     Except as provided for in paragraph 2 below, each Party to this
  Convention shall have one vote.
  2.     Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their
  competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to
  the number of their member States which are Parties to this Convention. Such
  organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States
  exercise theirs, and vice versa.
                                         Article 12
                                        SECRETARIAT
          The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe shall
   carry out the following secretariat functions:
           (a)   The convening and preparing of meetings of the Parties;
                                           (L
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ECE/CEP/4.3
                                                                      page 17
       (b)   The transmission to the Parties of reports and other information
received in accordance with the provisions of this Convention; and
       (c)    Such other functions as may be determined by the Parties.
                                      Article,13
                                        ANNEXES
       The annexes to this Convention shall constitute an integral part
thereof.
                                      Article 14
                             AMENDMENTS TO THE CONVENTION
1.     Any Party may propose amendments to this Convention.
2.     The text of any proposed amendment to this Convention shall be submitted
in writing to the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe,
who shall communicate it to all Parties at least ninety days before the
meeting of the Parties at which it is proposed for adoption.
3.     The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on any proposed
amendment to this Convention by consensus. If all efforts at consensus have
been exhausted, and no agreement reached, the amendment shall as a last resort
be adopted by a three-fourths majority vote of the Parties present and voting
at the meeting.
 4.    Amendments to this Convention adopted in accordance with paragraph 3
 above shall be communicated by the Depositary to all Parties for ratification,
 approval or acceptance. Amendments to this Convention other than those to an
 annex shall enter into force for Parties having ratified, approved or accepted
 them on the ninetieth day after the receipt by the Depositary of notification
 of their ratification, approval of acceptance by at least three fourths of
 these Parties. Thereafter they shall enter into force for any other Party on
 the ninetieth day after that Party deposits its instrument of ratification,
 approval or acceptance of the amendments.
 5.     Any Party that is unable to approve an amendment to an annex to this
 Convention shall so notify the Depositary in writing within twelve months from
 the date of the communication of the adoption. The Depositary shall without
 delay notify all Parties of any such notification received. A Party may at any
 time substitute an acceptance for its previous notification and, upon deposit
 of an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary, the amendments to such an
 annex shall become effective for that Party.
 6.     On the expiry of twelve months from the date of its communication by the
 Depositary as provided for in paragraph 4 above an amendment to an annex shall
 become effective for those Parties which have not submitted a notification       to
                                          Pr
 ---pagebreak---   ECE/CEP/43
  page 18
   the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 above,
   provided that not more than one third of the Parties have submitted such a
   notification.                ,
    7.     For the purposes of this article, "Parties present and'voting" means
    Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.
                                          Article 15
                                     REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE
           The Meeting of the Parties shall establish, on a consensus basis,
   optional arrangements of a non-confrontational, non-judicial and consultative
    nature for reviewing compliance with the provisions of this Convention. These
    arrangements shall allow for appropriate.public involvement and may include
    the option of considering communications from members of the public on matters
    related to this Convention.
y
                                          Article 16
                                    SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
    1.     If a dispute arises between two or more Parties about the interpretation
    or application of this Convention, they shall seek a solution by negotiation
    or by any other means of dispute settlement acceptable to the parties to the
    dispute.
    2.     When signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this
    Convention, or at any time thereafter, a Party may declare in writing to the
    Depositary that, for a dispute not resolved in accordance with paragraph 1
    above, it accepts one or both of the following means of dispute settlement as
    compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation:
            (a)    Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice;
            (b) ' Arbitration in accordance with the procedure set out in annex II.
     3.     If the parties to the dispute have accepted both means of dispute
     settlement referred to in paragraph 2 above, the dispute may be submitted only
     to the International Court of Justice, unless the parties agree otherwise.
                                              /s~
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                      page 19
                                     Article 17
                                      SIGNATURE
      This Convention shall be open for signature at Aarhus (Denmark) on 25
June 1998, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until
21 December 1998, by States members of the Economic Commission for Europe as
well as States having consultative status with the Economic Commission for
Europe pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 11 of Economic and Social Council
resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and by regional economic integration
organizations constituted by sovereign States members of the Economic
Commission for Europe to which their member States have transferred competence
over matters governed by this Convention, including the competence to enter
into treaties in respect of these matters.
                                     Article 18
                                     DEPOSITARY
       The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall act as the Depositary
of this Convention.
                                     Article 19
                 RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL AND ACCESSION
1.     This Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval
by signatory States and regional economic integration organizations.
2.     This Convention shall be open for accession as from 22 December 1998 by
the States and regional economic integration organizations referred to in
article 17.
3.     Any other State, not referred to in paragraph 2 above, that is a Member
of the United Nations may accede to the Convention upon approval by the
Meeting of the Parties.
4.     Any organization referred to in article 17 which becomes a Party to this
Convention without any of its member States being a Party shall be bound by
all the obligations under this Convention. If one or more of such an
organization's member States is a Party to this Convention, the organization
and its member States shall decide on their respective responsibilities for
the performance of their obligations under this Convention. In such cases, the
organization and the member States shall not be entitled to exercise rights
under this Convention concurrently.
5.     In their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or'accession,
the regional economic integration organizations referred to in article 17
shall declare the extent of their competence with respect to the matters
                                         13
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 20
 governed by this Convention. These organizations shall also inform the
 Depositary of any substantial modi'fication to the extent of their competence,
                                       Article 20             -
                                    ENTRY INTO FORCE
 1.     This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the
 date of deposit of the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance,
 approval or accession.
 2.     For the purposes of paragraph 1 above, any instrument deposited by a
 regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional
 to those deposited by States members of such an organization.
  3.    For each State or organization referred to in article 17 which ratifies,
 accepts or approves this Convention or accedes thereto after the deposit of
  the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession,
 the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of
 deposit by such State or organization of its instrument of ratification,
 acceptance, approval or accession.
                                       Article 21
                                       WITHDRAWAL
        At any time after three years from the date on which this Convention has
  come into force with respect to a Party, that Party may withdraw from the
 Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary. Any such
  withdrawal shall take effect on the ninetieth day after the date of its
  receipt by the Depositary.
                                       Article 22
                                     AUTHENTIC TEXTS
         The original of this Convention, of which the English, French and
  Russian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the
  Secretary-General of the United Nations.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have
  signed this Convention.
         DONE at Aarhus (Denmark), this twenty-fifth day of June, one thousand
  nine hundred and ninety-eight.
                                          ^o
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                    page 21
                                                                    Annex I
                                     Annex I
      LIST OF ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6, PARAGRAPH 1 (a)
1. Energy sector:
         Mineral oil and gas refineries;
          Installations for gasification and liquefaction;
         Thermal power stations and other combustion installations with a
          heat input of 50 megawatts (MW)or more;
         Coke ovens;
          Nuclear power stations and other nuclear reactors including the
          dismantling or decommissioning of such power stations or reactors
          1/ (except research installations for the production and
          conversion of fissionable and fertile materials whose maximum
          power does not exceed 1 kW continuous thermal load);
          Installations for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel;
          Installations designed:
                  For the production or enrichment of nuclear fuel;
                  For the processing of irradiated nuclear fuel or high-level
                  radioactive waste;
                  For the final disposal of irradiated nuclear fuel;
                  Solely for the final disposal of radioactive waste;
                  Solely for the storage (planned for more than 10 years) of
                  irradiated nuclear fuels or radioactive waste in a different
                  site than the production site.
2. Production and processing of metals:
          Metal ore (including sulphide ore) roasting or sintering
          installations;
           Installations for the production of pig-iron or steel (primary or
           secondary fusion) including continuous casting, with a capacity
          exceeding 2.5 tons per hour;
           Installations for the processing of ferrous metals:
           (i)    Hot-rolling niills with a capacity exceeding 20 tons of crude
                  steel per hour;
           (ii) Smitheries with hammers the energy of which exceeds 50
                  kilojoules per hammer, where the calorific power used
                  exceeds 20 MW;
            (iii) Application of protective fused metal coats with an input
                  exceeding 2 tons of crude steel per hour;
           Ferrous metal foundries with a production capacity exceeding 20
           tons per day;
                                        ^
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 22
Annex I
               Installations:
                (i)    For the production of non-ferrous crude metals from ore,
                      concentrates or secondary raw materials by. metallurgical,
                      chemical or electrolytic processes;
                (ii) For the smelting, including the alloying, of non-ferrous
                      metals, including recovered products (refining, foundry
                       casting, etc.), with a melting capacity exceeding 4 tons per
                       day for lead and cadmium or 20 tons per day for all other
                      metals;
               Installations for surface treatment of metals and plastic
               materials using an electrolytic or chemical process where the
               volume of the treatment vats exceeds 30 m 3.
  3.     Mineral industry:
                Installations for the production of cement clinker in rotary kilns
               with a production capacity exceeding 500 tons per day or lime in
                rotary kilns with a production capacity exceeding 50 tons per day
                or in other furnaces with a production capacity exceeding 50 tons
                per day;
                Installations for the production of asbestos and the manufacture
                of asbestos-based products;
                Installations for the manufacture of glass including glass fibre
                with a melting capacity exceeding 20 tons per day;
                Installations for melting mineral substances including the
                production of mineral fibres with a melting capacity exceeding 20
                tons per day;
                Installations for the manufacture of ceramic products by firing,
                in particular roofing tiles, bricks, refractory bricks, tiles,
                stoneware or porcelain, with a production capacity exceeding 75
                tons per day, and/or with a kiln capacity exceeding 4      m3 and with a
                                                               3
                setting density per kiln exceeding 300 kg/    m.
  4.     Chemical industry: Production within the meaning of the categories of
  activities contained in this paragraph means the production on an industrial
  scale by chemical processing of substances or groups of substances listed in
  subparagraphs (a) to (g) :
          (a)   Chemical installations for the production of basic organic
   chemicals, such as:
                 (i)        Simple hydrocarbons (linear or cyclic, saturated or
                            unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic);
                 (ii)       Oxygen-containing hydrocarbons such as alcohols,
                            aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, acetates,
                            ethers, peroxides, epoxy resins;
               • (iii)       Sulphurous hydrocarbons;
                 (iv)       Nitrogenous hydrocarbons such as amines, amides, nitrous
                            compounds, nitro compounds or nitrate compounds,
                            nitriles, cyanates, isocyanates;
                                             VL
 ---pagebreak---                                                                         ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                        page 23
                                                                        Annex I
              (v)         Phosphorus-containing hydrocarbons;
              (vi)        Halogenic hydrocarbons;
              (vii)       Organometallic compounds;
              (viii)      Basic plastic materials (polymers, synthetic fibres and
                          cellulose-based fibres);
              (ix)        Synthetic rubbers;                                      /
              (x)         Dyes and pigments;
              (xi)        Surface-active agents and surfactants;
       (b)    Chemical installations for the production of basic inorganic
chemicals, such as:
              (i)     Gases, such as ammonia, chlorine or hydrogen chloride,
                      fluorine or hydrogen fluoride, carbon oxides, sulphur
                      compounds, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen, sulphur dioxide,
                      carbonyl chloride;
               (ii) Acids, such as chromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric
                      acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, oleum,
                      sulphurous acids;
               (iii) Bases, such as ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,
                      sodium hydroxide;
               (iv) Salts, such as ammonium chloride, potassium chlorate,
                      potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, perborate, silver
                      nitrate;
               (v)    Non-metals, metal oxides or other inorganic compounds such
                      as calcium carbide, silicon, silicon carbide;
        (c)   Chemical installations for the production of phosphorous-,
nitrogen- or potassium-based fertilizers (simple or compound fertilizers);
        (d)   Chemical installations for the production of basic plant
health products and of biocides;
        (e)    Installations using a chemical or biological process for the
production of basic pharmaceutical products;
        (f)    Chemical installations for the production of explosives;
        (g)    Chemical installations in which chemical or biological processing
 is used for the production of protein feed additives, ferments and other
 protein substances.
 5.     Waste management:
               Installations for the incineration, recovery, chemical treatment
               or landfill of hazardous waste;
               Installations for the incineration of municipal waste with a
               capacity exceeding 3 tons per hour;
                Installations for the disposal of non-hazardous waste with a
                capacity exceeding 50 tons per day;
                                             11
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 24
Annex I
                Landfills receiving more than 10 tons per day or with a total
                capacity exceeding 25 000 tons, excluding landfills of inert
                waste.
  6.     Waste-water treatment plants with a capacity exceeding 150 000
 population equivalent.
 7.      Industrial plants for the :
          (a)   Production of pulp from timber or similar fibrous materials;
          (b)   Production of paper and board with a production capacity exceeding
  20 tons per day.
  8.      (a)   Construction of lines for long-distance railway traffic and of
  airports 2/ with a basic runway length of 2 100 m or more;
          (b)   Construction of motorways and express roads;     3/
          (c)   Construction of a new road of four or more lanes, or realignment
  and/or widening of an existing road of two lanes or less so as to provide four
  or more lanes, where such new road, or realigned and/or widened section of
  road, would be 10 km or more in a continuous length.
  9.      (a)   Inland waterways and ports for inland-waterway traffic which
  permit the passage of vessels of over 1 350 tons;
          (b)   Trading ports, piers for loading and unloading connected to land
  and outside ports (excluding ferry piers) which can take vessels of over 1 350
  tons.
   10.    Groundwater abstraction or artificial groundwater recharge schemes where
   the annual volume of water abstracted or recharged is equivalent to or exceeds
   10 million cubic metres.
   11.    (a)    Works for the transfer.of water resources between river basins
   where this transfer aims at preventing possible shortages of water and where
   the amount of water transferred exceeds 100 million cubic metres/year;
           (b)   In all other cases, works for the transfer of water resources
   between river basins where the multiannual average flow of the basin of
   abstraction exceeds 2 000 million cubic metres/year and where the amount of
   water transferred exceeds 5% of this flow.
   In both cases transfers of piped drinking water are excluded.
   12.    Extraction of petroleum and natural gas for commercial purposes where
   the amount extracted exceeds 500 tons/day in the case of petroleum and 500 000
   cubic metres/day in the case of gas.
                                              2Jl·
 ---pagebreak---                                                                          ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                         page 25
                                                                         Annex I
13.    Dams and other installations designed for the holding back or permanent
storage of water, where a new or additional amount of water held back or
stored exceeds 10 million cubic metres.
14.    Pipelines for the transport of gas, oil or chemicals with a diameter of
more than 800 mm and a length of more than 40 km.
15.    Installations for the intensive r    earing of poultry or pigs with more than:
       (a)    40 000- places for poultry;
       (b)    2 000 places for production pigs (over 30 k g ) ; or
       (c)    750 places for sows.
16.    Quarries and opencast mining where the surface of the site exceeds 2           5
hectares, or peat extraction, where the surface of the site exceeds 15                0
hectares.
17.    Construction of overhead electrical power lines with a voltage of 220 k        V
or more and a length of more, than 15 km.
18.    Installations for the storage of petroleum, petrochemical, or chemica          1
products with a capacity of 200 000 tons Or more.
19.    Other activities:
              Plants for the pretreatment (operations such as washing,
              bleaching, mercerization) or dyeing of fibres or textiles where
              the treatment capacity exceeds 10 tons per day;
              Plants for the tanning of hides and skins where the treatment
              capacity exceeds 12 tons of finished products per day;
               (a)    Slaughterhouses with a carcass production capacity greater
                      than 50 tons per day;
               (b)    Treatment and processing intended for the production of food
                      products from:
                      (i)    Animal raw materials (other than milk) with a finished
                             product production capacity greater than 75 tons per
                             day;
                       (ii)  Vegetable raw materials with a finished product
                             production capacity greater than 300 tons per day
                              (average value on a quarterly basis);
               (c)    Treatment and processing of milk, the quantity of milk
                      received being greater than 200 tons per day (average value
                      on an annual basis);
                                             zs
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 26 "
Annex I
                Installations for the disposal or recycling of animal carcasses
                and animal waste with a treatment capacity exceeding 10 tons per
                day;
                Installations for the surface treatment of substances, objects or
                products using organic solvents, in particular for "dressing,
                printing, coating, degreasing, waterproofing, sizing, painting,
                cleaning or impregnating, with a consumption capacity of more than
                150 kg per hour or more than 200 tons per year;
         -      Installations for the production of carbon (hard-burnt coal) or
                electrographite by means, of incineration or graphitization.
  20.    Any activity not covered by paragraphs 1-19 above where public
  participation is provided for under an environmental impact assessment
  procedure in accordance with national legislation.
  21.    The provision of article 6, paragraph 1 (a) of this Convention, does not
  apply to any of the above projects undertaken exclusively or mainly for
  research, development and testing of new methods or products for less than two
  years unless they would be likely to cause a significant adverse effect on
  environment or health.
  22.    Any change to or extension of activities, where such a change or
  extension in itself meets the criteria/thresholds set out in this annex, shall
  be subject to article 6, paragraph 1 (a) of this Convention. Any other change
  or extension of activities shall be subject to article 6, paragraph 1 (b) of
  this Convention.
                                            Notes
          1/     Nuclear power stations and other nuclear reactors cease to be such
  an installation when all nuclear fuel and other radioactively contaminated
   elements have been removed permanently from the installation site.
          2/ For the purposes of this Convention, "airport" means an airport which
   complies with the definition in the 1944 Chicago Convention setting up the
   International Civil Aviation Organization (Annex 14).
          3/ For the purposes of this Convention, "express road" means a road
   which complies with the definition in the European Agreement on Main
   International Traffic Arteries of 15 November 1975.
                                                24
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ECE/CEP/4 3
                                                                      page 27
                                                                      Annex II
                                      Annex II
                                     ARBITRATION
1.     In the event of a dispute being submitted for arbitration pursuant to
article 16, paragraph 2, of this Convention, a party or parties shall notify
the secretariat of the subject matter of arbitration and indicate, in
particular, the articles of this Convention whose interpretation or
application is at issue. The secretariat shall forward the information
received to all Parties to this Convention.
2.    The arbitral tribunal shall consist of three members. Both the claimant
party or parties and the other party or parties to the dispute shall appoint
an arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so appointed shall designate by common
agreement the third arbitrator, who shall be the president of the arbitral
tribunal. The latter shall not be a national of one of the parties to the
dispute, nor have his or her usual place of residence in the territory of one
of these parties, nor be employed by any of them, nor have dealt with the case
in any other capacity.
3.     If the president of the arbitral tribunal has not been designated within
two months of the appointment of the second arbitrator, the Executive
Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe shall, at the request of
either party to the dispute, designate the president within a further
two-month period.
4.     If one of the parties to the dispute does not appoint an arbitrator
within two months of the receipt of the request, the other party may so inform
the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, who shall
designate the president of the arbitral tribunal within a further two-month
period. Upcn designation, the president of the arbitral tribunal shall
request the party which has not appointed an arbitrator to do so within two
months. If it fails to do so within that period, the president shall so
inform the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, who
shall make this appointment within a further two-month period.
5.     The arbitral tribunal shall render its decision in accordance with
international law and the provisions of this Convention.
6.    Any arbitral tribunal constituted under the provisions set out in this
annex shall draw up its own rules of procedure.
7.     The decisions of the arbitral tribunal, both on procedure and on
substance, shall be taken by majority vote of its members.
8.     The tribunal may take all appropriate measures to establish the facts.
9.     The parties to the dispute shall facilitate the work of the arbitral
tribunal and, in particular, using all means at their disposal, shall:
                                            Vr
 ---pagebreak--- ECE/CEP/43
page 28
Annex II
         (a)    Provide it with all relevant documents, facilities and
  information;
         (b)    Enable it, where necessary, to call witnesses or experts and
 receive their evidence.
 10.    The parties and the arbitrators shall protect the. confidentiality of any
 information that they receive in confidence during the proceedings of the
 arbitral tribunal.
 11.    The arbitral tribunal may, at the request of one of the parties,
 recommend interim measures of protection.
 12.     If one of the parties  to the dispute does not appear before the arbitral
 tribunal or fails to defend   its case, the other party may request the tribunal
 to continue the proceedings   and to render its final decision. Absence of a
 party or failure of. a party  to defend its case shall not constitute a bar to
 the proceedings.
 13.    The arbitral tribunal may hear and determine counter-claims arising
 directly out of the subject matter of the dispute.
  14.    Unless the arbitral tribunal determines otherwise because of the
 particular circumstances of the case, the expenses of the tribunal, including
 the remuneration of its members, shall be borne by the parties to the dispute
  in equal shares. The tribunal shall keep a record of all its expenses, and
 shall furnish a final statement thereof to the parties.
  15.   Any Party to this Convention which has an interest of a legal nature in
 the subject matter of the dispute, and which may be affected by a decision in
 the case, may intervene in the proceedings with the consent of the tribunal.
  16.    The arbitral tribunal shall render its award within five months of the
 date on which it is established, unless it finds it necessary to extend the
  time limit for a period which should not exceed five months.
  17.    The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be accompanied by a statement
  of reasons. It shall be final and binding upon all parties to the dispute.
 The award will be transmitted by the arbitral tribunal to the parties to the
  dispute and to the secretariat. The secretariat will forward the information
  received to all Parties to this Convention.
  18.    Any dispute which may arise between the parties concerning the
  interpretation or execution of the award may be submitted by either party to
  the arbitral tribunal which made the award or, if the latter cannot.be seized
  thereof, to another tribunal constituted for this purpose in the same manner
  as the first.
                                               £«
 ---pagebreak---                                                        ISSN 0254-1483
                                            COM(98) 344 τελικό
                                              ΕΓΓΡΑΦΑ
GR                                                     14 11 06
                           Αριθ. καταλόγου : CB-CO-98-352-GR-C
                                                  ISBN 92-78-36827-Χ
Υπηρεσία Επισήμων Εκδόσεων των Ευρωπαϊκών Κοινοτήτων
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