EU lawyers discuss enforceability of legislation on environmental protection
On Tuesday 7 April, Prague hosted a seminar of the Network of EU Environmental Lawyers (NEEL). The Member State experts discussed practical instruments and measures that could enhance the enforceability of legislation on the protection of the environment.
Among the topics discussed at the seminar was the issue of access to legal (judicial) protection under EU legislation. The European Commission presented its proposal for a directive on this issue already in 2003, but shortly thereafter the EU bodies have suspended the debate on this proposal. Some Member States expressed their reservations concerning the proposal, since they believed that the directive would interfere excessively with their national judicial systems.
The Czech Republic as the country holding the EU Presidency has reopened the debate on the proposal, since it considers the public access to justice one of the key instruments for improved application of environmental law. The content of the proposal is also related to obligations stemming from the Aarhus Convention, signed by all of the EU Member States and by the European Communities.
“At the meeting in Prague we discussed possible amendments to the directive proposal, which could reconcile the different approaches of the Member States”, said Libor Dvořák, director of the Legislative Department of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, who chaired the meeting.
The Network of EU Environmental Lawyers (NEEL) is a group of EU experts on environmental law (from ministries, relevant agencies and other institutions) and a representatives of the European Commission. Set up in 2005, the group aims above all to be a forum for exchange of expert experience and knowledge related to the preparation and application of European legislation in the field of environmental protection. NEEL expert workshops, which are held twice a year, are organised by the country holding the Presidency of the EU Council.
Contact:
- Jakub Kašpar, spokesperson, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic
- phone: 267 122 040, mobile.: 724 175 927, e-mail: jakub.kaspar@mzp.cz
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:33
