Through para. 16 (a) (ii) of decision III/3, paras. 5 and 13 (a) of decision IV/2, paras. 5 and 14 (b) of decision V/3, paras. 5 and 15 (b) of decision VI/3, the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention requested the Task Force on Access to Justice to provide a platform for sharing information, experiences and good practices related to access to justice by supporting a portal for the exchange of jurisprudence concerning the Aarhus Convention for use by judges, legal professionals, academics and other stakeholders.
Parties to the Convention and other stakeholders are kindly invited to submit on ongoing basis the following information about cases that make reference to the Aarhus Convention and its principles: case summaries (in English or Russian) and decisions from the courts and other bodies, the decisions of which have precedence in the legal system, concerning “Aarhus issues” (i.e. either by reference to the Aarhus Convention itself, or to domestic legislation implementing the Convention or dealing with the principles of the Convention). Also, cases involving a country from relevant judicial bodies at the regional level, such as the European Court of Human Rights.
Case summaries as reviewed by the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Justice in consultation with the secretariat and the submitter will be uploaded below.
A template (ENG and RUS) and an example (ENG and RUS) have been prepared to facilitate submission of relevant cases. Please send the submissions to the Aarhus Convention secretariat (public.participation[at]un.org).
The jurisprudence has been included in the Aarhus Clearingshouse for Environmental Democracy.
Parties to the Convention and other stakeholders are kindly invited to submit on ongoing basis the following information about cases that make reference to the Aarhus Convention and its principles: case summaries (in English or Russian) and decisions from the courts and other bodies, the decisions of which have precedence in the legal system, concerning “Aarhus issues” (i.e. either by reference to the Aarhus Convention itself, or to domestic legislation implementing the Convention or dealing with the principles of the Convention). Also, cases involving a country from relevant judicial bodies at the regional level, such as the European Court of Human Rights.
Case summaries as reviewed by the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Justice in consultation with the secretariat and the submitter will be uploaded below.
A template (ENG and RUS) and an example (ENG and RUS) have been prepared to facilitate submission of relevant cases. Please send the submissions to the Aarhus Convention secretariat (public.participation[at]un.org).
The jurisprudence has been included in the Aarhus Clearingshouse for Environmental Democracy.
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Armenia General Jurisdiction Court of First Instance of Syunik Region 22 residents of the Kapan city v. Armenian Sewerage Compan
24 March 2011ENG Access to justice
(art 9 para 3)Armenia Cassation Court Teghout mine case
30 October 2009 and
1 April 2011ENG NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) Armenia Constitutional Court Decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia N906
9 July 2010ENG NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) Armenia Administrative Court of Armenia Dolphynarium case
10 April 2012ENG NGOs standing (art 2, paras 4 and 5, art 9, paras 2 and 3) - B
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Belgium Constitutional Court ENG Public participation, access to justice, plans and programmes (art. 7) Belgium Constitutional Court ENG Public participation, plans and programmes (art. 7) Belgium Constitutional Court ENG Access to justice (art. 9, para. 3) Belgium Council of State ENG Access to environmental information (art. 4, paras. 1, 3, 4 and 6) Belgium Council of State ENG NGO standing (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 5) Belgium Council of State Boxus and W. Roua
27 March 2009ENG Public participation, access to justice and projects (art. 2, para. 2, and art. 9, para. 2) Belgium Constitutional Court ENG Public participation, access to justice and projects (art. 2, para. 2, art. 3, para. 9, art. 6, para. 9, and art 9, paras. 2-4) Belgium Council of State IMMO Dominique
18 December 2012ENG Access to justice and environmental permitting (art. 2, para. 2, art. 3, para. 9, art. 6, para. 8, and art. 9, para. 2 and 4) Belgium Supreme court PP and PSLV v. Gewestelijk Stedenbouwkundig Inspecteur and M vzw
11 June 2013ENG Standing of environmental NGO in a criminal case (art. 2, para. 4, art. 3, para. 4, and art. 9, para. 3) Belgium Constitutional Court Lauwers c.s., vzw Ademloos c.s., G. Bergmans c.s. and M. Van Damme v. Flemish Government 23 January 2014 ENG Definition of "public" and "public concerned" (Art. 2 para. 4, art. 2 para. 5) and access to justice (art. 9, paras 2 to 4)
Belgium Court of Appeal, Ghent CITES Crime case
7 May 2015ENG Rights of ENGO in criminal proceedings (art. 9, paras. 3 and 4) Belgium Constitutional Court Case Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen and Terre wallonne (fr, nl. de)
21 January 2016ENG The right of environmental NGOs to claim moral damages (art. 9, paras. 3 and 4) Belgium Court of First Instance, Brussels Greenpeace vs Flemish Region
10 October 2018ENG The right of environmental NGO to claim court orders with regard to air quality (art. 9, paras. 3 and 4) Belgium Court of First Instance, Brussels Climate Change case
24 June 2021ENG The right of environmental NGO and other public to challenge climate change policies (art. 9, para. 3) Belgium Constitutional Court Urban Planning Permit case (NL/FR)
17 June 2021ENG The right of a company with a purely commercial interest to file an appeal (art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) Bulgaria Supreme Administrative Court Air Quality Plans cases
(multiple)ENG The right to challenge air quality plans (art. 9, para. 3) Bulgaria Sofia city [civil] court Clean Air Class Action (BG)
8 November 2021ENG The right to challenge omission of public authority to mitigate air pollution (art. 9, para. 3) - F
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue France Conseil d'Etat Conseil d'Etat No266668
Association des habitans du Littoral du Morbihan
7 August 2007ENG Access to environmental information (art 4) - G
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Germany Oberwaltungsgericht Schleswig NABU and others v die Stadt Kappeln
12 March 2009ENG Access to justice (art 9, paras. 2 and 5) Germany Bundesverwaltungsgericht Darmstadt case, BVerwG 7 C 21.12 ENG Access to justice (art 9, para 3) and Definitions )art 2, para. 5) - H
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Hungary Supreme Court Tubes Hill Case
17 March 2010ENG Access to information and public participation in activity serving national defence purposes (art. 4. art. 6, paras. 2 and 3 and art. 9, para. 2) Hungary Administrative and Labour Court, Pecs City Case re permitting waste management site
21 June 2018ENG Appeal by the members of the public that have not been informed about the decision (art. 6 and art 9, para. 2) - I
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Italy Consiglio di Stato Codacons v Ministry of the Environment18 December 2007ENG Public participation (art 6, 7 and 8), access to justice (art 9) Italy Consiglio di Stato Horiba di Bombini G. e C. s.n.c. v Comitato Regionale Pugliese di Legambiente
14 April 2006ENG Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) Italy Corte Suprema di Cassazione Verdi Ambiente e Società ONLUS v Tribunale di Foggia
14 November 2006ENG NGO standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) Italy Consiglio di Stato Italia Nostra, Legambiente, WWF v Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri et al.
22 July 2005ENG Access to information (art 4 and 5), public participation (art 6) Italy Consiglio di Stato Regione Veneto v Legambiente of Verona et al
17 July 2004ENG Standing (art 2 para 5), public participation (art 6), access to justice (art 9) Italy Consiglio di Stato National Organisation of Nuclear Physics v Engineers Association
7 September 2004ENG Access to information (art 4 and 5), public participation (art 6) Italy Consiglio di Stato Region of Lombardia; ’La Rinascente’ v Legambiente
16 December 2003ENG NGO standing (art 2 para 5), plans programs and policies (art 7), access to justice (art 9) Italy Consiglio di Stato Landesverband für Heimatpflege in Südtirol v Provincia di Bolzano; Comune di Monguelfo
9 October 2002ENG Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) Italy Consiglio di Stato CODACONS Nazionale e CODACONS Centro Marche v Comune di Potenza Picena et al
11 July 2001ENG Standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) - L
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Latvia Constitutional Court Case 2008-03-03 on compliance of Regulation No 67 of the Riga City Council with the Spatial Planning Law and art 115 of the Constitution
24 September 2008ENG Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 2, art 4, art 6, art 7, art 9) Latvia Constitutional Court Case 2008-38-03 on compliance of Regulations No 8 and No19 of the Municipality of Jurmala with art 115 of the Constitution
6 July 2009ENG Public participation, access to environmental information (art 4,
art 7, art 9 para 2)Latvia Constitutional Court On Compliance of the Binding Regulation No. 67 of 19 December 2006 of the Riga City Council "Regulations of Use and Building of the Territory in Maskava Street 264 (Cadastre No. 01000780413) and Maskava Street without Number" with Item 1 of Section 3 of the Spatial Planning Law, Item 4 of the First Part of Section 37 of the Protection Zone Law and art. 115 of the Satversme (Constitution) of the Republic of LatviaENG Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 2, art 4, art 6, art 7, art 9) Latvia Constitutional Court On compliance of the Cabinet of Ministers 8 August 2001 Decree No. 401 "On the Location of the Hazardous Waste Incineration Facility in Olaine" with art. 111 and 115 of the Satversme, art. 5 and 6 (Items 1-3) of the Waste Management Law, art. 3 and 11 of the Law "On the Environmental Impact Assessment", art. 14 and 17 (the First Part) of the Law on Pollution as well as art. 11 of the Law ‘On Environmental Protection’ENG Access to environmental information, access to justice, public participation (art 3 para 2, art 4, art 6 (annex I para 5) art 9) Latvia Supreme Court Political party "Jaunais Laiks" and Association of Protection of the City of Jurmala v. Jurmala City Council (SKA-325/2010) ENG Access to Justice (Article 9)
Latvia Supreme Court Council of the City of Ventspils v. State Environmental Service’s Regional Environmental Board of the city of Ventspils (SKA – 424/2012). ENG Public participation in decisions on specific activities (Article 6) and Access to Justice (Article 9) Latvia Supreme Court Association "Mezaparka attistibas biedriba" v. Council of the City of Riga for its non-compliance with a decision of State’s Inspection on Environmental Matters (SKA-2015/2011) ENG Access to Justice (Article 9) Lithuania Supreme Administrative Court A. Ž. and others v. Ministry of Environment and its Vilnius Regional Protection Department
2 December 2011ENG Access to justice (art. 1, art. 2, para. 4 and art. 9, paras. 3 and 4) Lithuania Supreme Administrative Court “Žvėryno bendruomenė” v. administration of Vilnius municipality
9 December 2010ENG Public Participation and Access to Justice (art. 6 and art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) Lithuania Supreme Court District Chief Prosecutor v. “Bitė Lietuva”
21 December 2011ENG Public participation, plans and programmes(art. 7) Lithuania Supreme Administrative Court
Case re the Curonian Spit national park management plan
28 September 2012ENG Access to justice (art. 9) Lithuania Supreme Court CSC “Saerimner”
16 January 2013ENG Access to justice (art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) - R
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Pepublic of Moldova Curtea de Apel Chisinau Case 3-2039/2008 (MD)
NGO "Eco-Tiras" v. Moldsilva
23 June 2008ENG Access to environmental information (art. 2, paras. 2-4, art. 3 and 4), access to justice (art. 9, para. 1) - S
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Country Court CaseSummaryKey issue Slovakia Regional Court in Bratislava Case re local air quality plan
13 November 2018ENG Public participation in decision-making re the local air quality plan (art. 2, para. 5, art. 7 and art. 9, para. 2) Spain Tribunal Supremo Asociación GECEN – Aeropuerto de Castellón
25 June 2005ENG NGO standing (art 2 para 5), access to justice (art 9) Spain Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias Port of Granadilla, (Decision on interim measures # 66/09)
15 June 2009ENG Injunction (art 9, paras. 3 and 4) Spain Supreme Court Dam of Itoiz case, STS 6202/2011
29September 2011
ENGAccess to information, material in the course of completion (art 4, para 3 (c)) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Miljööverdomstolen) Mettinge (Sweden); MÖD 2001:29
27 June 2001ENG Public concerned (neighbours) (art 2 and art 9, para. 3) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) Uppsala Värme (Sweden); MÖD 2002:82
3 December 2002ENG Public concerned (art 2, para. 5, and art 9, para 2) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) Ödeshög (Sweden); MÖD 2003:19
12 March 2003ENG Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2, para 5, and art 9, para 3) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) Perstorp (Sweden); MÖD 2003:98, MÖD 2003:99
17 October 2003ENG Public concerned (art 2, para 5, and art 9) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) Gotland (Sweden); MÖD 2004:31
15 June 2004ENG Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2, para 5, and art 9, para 3) Sweden Environmental Court of Appeal (Mark- och miljööverdomstolen) Ragnsells (Sweden); MÖD 2011:46
12 December 2012ENG Public concerned and omission by public authority (art 2, para 5,and art 9, para 2) Sweden Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen) Brännö Brygga, NJA 2004 s. 590
21 October 2004ENG Public concerned (neighbours) (art 2, para 5, and art 9) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) Gabbens bergtäkt (Sweden); RÅ 1993 ref. 97
16 November 1993ENG Public concerned and the public interest (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras 2 and 3) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) Stora Billerud (Sweden); RÅ 1997 ref 38
16 June 1997ENG Standing for individuals (art 2, para 5, and art 9) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten) Great crested newt (Sweden); RÅ 2005 ref 44
8 February 2005ENG The public interest and the scope of environmental impact assessment (art 2, para 5, and art 9) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court and Stockholm Administrative Court of Appeal The Kynna wolf case
15 July 2012ENG ENGO standing (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras. 2-4) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court Änok; HFD 2014:8
14 February 2014
ENGENGO standing (art 2, para 5; art 6, para 1; and art 9, paras. 3-4) Sweden Land and Environmental Court of Appeal Simrishamn; MÖD 2015:8
5 March 2015
ENGENGO standing (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras. 3-4)
SwedenLand and Environmental Court of Appeal Public Support; MÖD 2015-04-15 in case No 8662-14
15 April 2015ENG Criteria for ENGO standing (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras. 3-4) Sweden Land and Environmental Court of Appeal Case 16:13 MB (Environmental Code)
15 November 2012ENG Criteria for ENG standing (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras. 2-4) Sweden Supreme Court Taggen Windfarm case
18 December 2012ENG Criteria for ENG standing (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras. 2-4) Sweden Supreme Administrative Court Case re Appeal Ban of Hunting Decisions
18 December 2015ENG Appeals ban of hunting decisions and access to justice (at 2, para 5, art. 9, paras. 3-4) Switzerland Federal Supreme Court BirdLife Appeal
17 April 2015
ENG Appeal against hunting decision and access to justice (art. 2, para. 5, art. 9, para. 3) Switzerland Federal Supreme Court Case re plant protection products
12 February 2018ENG Access to review procedure as a party, standing and access to information (art. 4 and art. 9, para. 3) Switzerland Administrative Court of Canton of Berne Camping site case
8 December 2017ENG Appeal against a cantonal decision and access to justice (art. 2, para. 5, art. 9, para. 3)
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Tajikistan Hudjand Municipal Court Case re access to information (2-583)
21 April 2011
ENG
RUSAccess to information (art 2, para. 3, and art. 4, para 4) - U
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Country Court CaseSummaryIssue Ukraine Kyiv Adm Court of Appeal NGOs v. Ministry of Education and Science
30 June 2010Omission by a public authority (art 3, para 3, and art 9) Ukraine Kyiv Adm Court of Appeal ELP v the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine
22 November 2012ENG
RUSPublishing the state environmental expertiza conclusions United Kingdom High Court ENG Public participation (art 6), costs and remedies (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal Morgan v Hinton Organics (Wessex) Ltd
2 March 2009ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal Davey v Aylesbury Vale District Council
15 November 2007ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal R (Buglife) v Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
4 November 2008ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom High Court and Court of Appeal ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom High Court R (on the application of McCaw) v City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court [2008] (judgment not available)ENG Prohibitive costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Appeal Compton v Wiltshire Primary Care Trust
1 July 2008ENG Costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Court of Session Opinion of Lady Dorrian in the Petition of Marco McGinty and Another for Judicial Review
20 January 2010ENG Costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom,
European UnionUK Supreme Court, Court of Justice EU Ambient Air Quality case
Supreme Court – 1 May 2013 (reference for preliminary ruling) and 29 April 2015 (final judgment)
CJEU (Reference for a preliminary ruling in C-404/13)– 19 November 2014ENG ENGO standing in cases relating to air protection (art 2, para 5, and art 9, paras 2-4) United Kingdom High Court of Justice RSPB, Friends of the Earth & Client Earth v. Secretary of State for Justice
15 September 2017ENG Costs (art 9 para 4) United Kingdom Supreme Court Dover v CPRE
6 December 2017ENG Duty to give reasons (Article 6, para. 9, and article 9, para. 4) - EU
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Court CaseSummaryIssue European Union Court of First Instance ENG Access to information (art. 2, para 3) European Union Court of First Instance, Court of Justice Case T-91/07 (EN) and C-355/08 P (EN)
WWF-UK Ltd v Council of the European UnionENG NGO standing before the Court of First Instance and the Court of Justice (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 3) European Union Court of Justice ENG Public and public concerned (art 2, paras. 4 and 5), public participation (art. 6, para. 1 (b)), access to justice (art. 9, paras. 2, 4 and 5) European Union Court of Justice Case C-263/08 (EN / SV)
DLV v Stockholms kommun
(Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Högsta domstolen -Sweden)
15 October 2009ENG Access to justice (art. 9, para. 2), public participation (art. 6, para 1(a), public concerned (art 2, paras. 4 and 5), NGO standing (art. 2, para. 5, and art. 9, para. 2) European Union Court of Justice Case C-115/09 (EN / DE)
Trianel
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: l’Oberverwaltungsgericht für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen - Germany)
12 May 2011ENG Access to justice (art. 9 paras. 2-4), NGO standing (art. 2, para.5; art. 9, para. 2), public participation (art. 6) European Union Court of Justice Case C-240/09 (EN / SK)
LZ VLK v Ministry of Environment of Slovakia
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Najvyšší súd Slovenskej republiky - Slovakia)
8 March 2011ENG Public participation (art 3, para. 1; art. 6, para 1), access to justice (art. 9, para. 3) European Union Court of Justice Case C-260/11 (EN)
Edwards/Pallikaropoulos
(Reference for a preliminary ruling:
Edwards/Pallikaropoulos v Environment Agency)
11 April 2011ENG Prohibitive costs (art. 9, para. 4) European Union Court of Justice Case C-416/10 (EN/SL)
Križan and Others v Slovenská inšpekcia
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Najvyšší súd - Slovenia)
15 January 2013ENG Effective remedies (art. 2, paras. 3 and 5; Art. 4, paras. 1, 3(d) and (e); Art. 6; Art. 9, paras. 1, 2 and 4) European Union Court of Justice Case C-72/12 (EN), Gemeinde Altrip and others v. Land Rheinland-Pfalz (European Union), ENG Standing (article 9, paras. 2 and 3) European Union Court of Justice 1) Joined cases C-401/12 P, C-402/12 P and C-403/12 P (Vereniging Milieudefensie and Stichting Stop Luchtverontreiniging Utrecht.);
2) Joined cases C-404/12 P and C-405/12 P (Stichting Natuur en Milieu and Pesticide Action Network Europe)
13 January 2015ENG Standing of private parties(art. 9, para. 3) European Union Court of Justice Case C-279/12 (EN)
FishLegal, Emily Shirley v Information Commissioner
(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Upper-Tribunal, United Kingdom)
19 December 2013ENG Access to information, scope, concept of public authorities (art. 2, para. 2, and art. 4, para. 1) European Union Court of Justice Case C-71/14 (EN)
East Sussex County Council v Information Commissioner
(Reference for a preliminary ruling - First-Tier Tribunal, United Kingdom)
6 October 2015ENG Charges for supplying environmental information (art. 4, para. 1 and 8, art. 9, para. 1.) European Union Court of Justice C-612/13 P (EN)
ClientEarth v European Commission
16 July 2015ENG Access to information, grounds for refusal - investigation (art. 4, paras. 1 and 4, and art. 9, paras. 1 and 4 ) European Union Court of Justice C-106/14 (EN/FR)
FCD and FMB v Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy of France
(Reference for a preliminary ruling - the Conseil d'état, France)
10 September 2015ENG Access to product information (art. 5, paras. 1, 6, 8 and 9) European Union Court of Justice C-615/13 P (EN)
ClientEarth and PAN Europe v EFSA
16 July 2015ENG Access to information, concept of personal data and its disclosure
(art. 4, paras. 1 and 4 (f))European Union Court of Justice C-137/14 (EN/DE)
European Commission v Germany
15 October 2015ENG Access to justice, standing of ENGOs and the scope of review (art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) European Union Court of Justice C-243/15 (EN/SK)
LZ VLK v Obvodny Urad Trencin
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Najvyšší súd Slovenskej republiky - Slovakia)
8 November 2016ENG Standing of NGOs; decision-making on activities not listed in Annex 1 (art. 2, para. 5, art. 6, art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) European Union Court of Justice C-529/15 (EN/DE)
Gert Folk
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Administrative Court, Austria)
1 June 2017ENG Standing, environmental damage (art. 2 paras. 4 and 5; art. 9, paras. 2 and 3) European Union Court of Justice C-664/15 (EN/DE)
Protect Umweltorganisation v Bezirkshauptmannschaft Gmünd
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgerichtshof, Austria)
20 December 2017ENG Standing and effective remedies Art. 2 para. 4 and 5; Art. 6, para. 1 (b); Art. 9, paras. 2, 3, and 4 European Union Court of Justice C-167/17 (EN)
Klohn v An Bord Pleanala
(Reference for a preliminary ruling: Supreme Court of Ireland)
17 October 2018ENG Requirement for a review procedure that is not prohibitively expensive (art. 9, para. 4)
Disclaimer: The presence of summaries submitted by national focal points and other stakeholders on this web site does not imply endorsement of their content by the UNECE.