ACCC/C/2009/37 Belarus

Case status: Findings adopted on 24.09.2010 – Non-compliance found.
Follow-up: Suspended upon the Party concerned’s withdrawal from the Convention, which entered into effect on 24 October 2022; see Decision VII/8c, Decision VI/8c, Decision V/9c, Decision IV/9b.
Topics: Definitions; Access to environmental information; Public participation.
Articles alleged: 4 (1); 6 (2), 6 (3), 6 (6)–(9).
Articles considered by the Committee: 2 (2), 2 (3); 3 (8); 4 (1)–(3); 4 (5); 5 (1), 5 (2); 6 (1)–(3), 6 (5), 6 (6)–6 (9).
Articles, if any, found in non-compliance: 4 (1); 6 (2), 6 (3), 6 (6)–(9).
Summary: On 14 March 2009, members of the public submitted a communication to the Compliance Committee alleging a failure by Belarus to comply with its obligations under the Convention. The communication alleged that by failing to make information available to the public with regard to the hydropower plant project on the Neman River in Belarus, the Party concerned failed to comply with articles 4 (1), and 6 (6) of the Convention. The communication further alleged that by failing to notify and consult adequately with the public in the decision-making process, the Party concerned failed to comply with the requirements of article 6 (2), (3), 6 (7)–(9), of the Convention.