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Fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention

30 June - 02 July 2014
Maastricht Netherlands

The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) took place in Maastricht, the Netherlands, from 30 June 2014 to 2 July 2014, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Netherlands. The meeting venue was the Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre (MECC). The fifth session was held back to back with the second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on PRTRs) (3-4 July 2014) and the joint High-level Segment of the two Meetings (2 July 2014).

The event provided a platform for Parties, Signatories, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss achievements and challenges in promoting a wide range of topics, including access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. 

As the international community embarks on charting the way for an ambitious post 2015 development agenda with new Sustainable Development Goals, the Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers already provide an essential framework for Governments to effectively engage different stakeholders in decision-making, thereby offering solutions to truly sustainable governance.

At the session the Parties discussed global promotion of the Convention and agreed on a number of decisions to guide their implementation in the next intersessional period, including future strategic plan and work programme.

In the same meeting venue, the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention was preceded by:

Please note below categories of documents:

1. Post-session documents

2. In-session documents

3. Documents prepared in advance for the session: 

  • Category I (official documents for possible action)
  • Category II (official background documents, for instance on implementation and compliance and national implementation reports)
  • Category III (other documents relevant to the agenda)

4. Intersessional documents of relevance to the agenda (also Category II)

5. Documents distribution policy

6. Statements

The Maastricht Declaration: Transparency as a driving force for environmental democracy (ECE/MP.PP/2014/27 Add.1-ECE/MP.PRTR/2014/2 Add.1) along with all other relevant statements and documents can be accessed at the page of the Joint High-level Segment under the Meetings of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs (Maastricht, Netherlands, 2 July 2014). 

Overview

The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) took place in the MECC Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands from 30 June 2014 to 2 July 2014, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Netherlands. 

 

The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties provided a platform for Parties, Signatories, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders, to reaffirm their commitment to further promote environmental democracy in the UNECE region and beyond. Participants addressed a wide range of topics and adopted important decisions regarding the key areas of work including access to justice, access to information and public participation in decision-making as well as in international forums. 

 

All documents include documents and decisions adopted by the Meeting of the Parties, background documents prepared in advance of the meeting and relevant intersessional documents.

 

The Maastricht Declaration was adopted at the Joint High-level Segment of the fifth session of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer registers (2 July 2014). For more information on the High-level Segment, on the Declaration and to read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered at the Joint High-level Segment  click here 

 

Maastricht Declaration: regional contribution to a people-centred post-2015 development agenda.

 

The Maastricht Declaration adopted at the Joint High-level Segment of the fifth session of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer registers (2 July 2014) added an important building block in the Parties’ efforts to promote environmental democracy in view of the post-2015 development agenda. Through the Declaration, Parties to the two treaties sent a clear message for greater transparency, the protection of environmental activists and whistle-blowers, adequate product information and the use of social media. 

While welcoming the initiative on developing a regional instrument on environmental rights in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the establishment of PRTR systems around the globe, Parties encouraged similar initiatives intending to replicate the achievements of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol and declared their readiness to support these initiatives.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the importance of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs in empowering people with the right to a healthy and favourable environment. The Secretary-General welcomed “the use of modern communication tools to enhance transparency and environmental democracy for all”. For the full statement, click here.

 

Furthering  implementation of the Convention

 

The Meeting agreed on a number of decisions, including the future work programme to guide the activities in the next intersessional period.  In adopting the Convention’s work programme for 2015–2017, the Republic of Moldova offered to continue leading the Task Force on Access to Information as did Sweden for the Task Force on Access to Justice, France for the promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums and Austria for GMOs. Italy offered to lead the Task Force on public participation in decision-making for the next intersessional period.   

 

Monitoring Parties’ compliance 

 

The Meeting also adopted decisions on specific cases of non-compliance concerning Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, European Union, Germany, Kazakhstan, Romania, Spain,  Turkmenistan, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, as well as a decision on general issues of compliance. To date, all findings by the Committee have been endorsed by the Meeting of the Parties and all Parties concerned demonstrated their consent with the decisions. 

Election of Bureau members

The Meeting of the Parties elected the following members of its Bureau:

 

 

Chairperson Ms Nino Sharashidze (Georgia) 
Vice-Chairpersons

Ms. Beate Berglund Ekeberg (Norway)

Mr. Lukas Pokorny (Czech Republic)

Members

Mr. Edwin Koning (Netherlands)

Mr. Adrian  Panciuc (Republic of Moldova)

Ms. Gordana Petkovic (Serbia)

Mr. Philippe Ramet (France)

 

In accordance with rule 22 of the rules of procedure, non-governmental organizations appointed Mr. Jeremy Wates (European ECO Forum and European Environmental Bureau) as the representative of NGOs to attend meetings of the Bureau.

Election of Compliance Committee members

In accordance with the procedure set out in decision I/7 on the review of compliance (ENG, FRE, RUS), in conjunction with decision I/1 on Rules of Procedure (ENG, FRE, RUS), the Meeting of the Parties re-elected by consensus the following members of the Compliance Committee: Mr. Jonas Ebbesson, (nominated by Sweden), Mr. Alexander Kodzhabashev, (nominated by BlueLink.net/Blue Link Foundation (NGO)), Ms. Dana Zhandayeva, (nominated by Civil Society Development Organization (ARGO) and European ECO-Forum (NGOs)); and elected by consensus Ms. Elena Fasoli, (nominated by Italy) and Mr. Alistair McGlone, (nominated by United Kingdom and Ireland) as new members of the Compliance Committee.

 

For more detailed information about the process to elect the members of the Compliance Committee please consult the note on the membership of the Compliance Committee for the sixteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (Geneva, 19-21 June 2013)  (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/11, ENG, FRE, RUS).

The Meeting of the Parties elects the members of the Committee by consensus, or failing consensus, by secret ballot. The Committee elects its own Chair and Vice-Chair at the next Committee’s meeting after the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties.

Post-session docs

Post-session docs

Document Title ENG FRE RUS
Report of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/2014/2) PDF PDF PDF
Decisions adopted by the Meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/2014/2/Add.1) PDF PDF PDF
Decisions adopted by the Meeting of the Parties, Corrigendum (ECE/MP.PP/2014/2/Add.1/Corr.1) PDF PDF PDF
Maastricht Recommendations on Promoting Effective Public Participation in Decision-making in Environmental Matters (ECE/MP.PP/2014/2/Add.2) PDF PDF PDF

 

In-session documents

In-session unedited documents are subject to revision and adoption. The following documents have been adopted by the Meeting of the Parties at its fifth session.

Document title ENG FRE RUS
List of key outcomes and decisions of MOP-5 (ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.9) PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Revised list of key outcomes and decisions of MOP-5 (ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.9/Rev.1) PDF
WORD
PDF
DOC
PDF
WORD
Decision V/1 on access to information
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.1 (see List of key decisions and outcomes of MOP-5 for editorial changes to the document)
     
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/2 on public participation in decision-making
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.1
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/3 on promoting effective access to justice
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.3 (see List of key decisions and outcomes of MOP-5 for editorial changes to the document)
     

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD

Decision V/4 on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums 
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.2

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/5 on the Strategic Plan for 2015–2020
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.5
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/6 on the work programme for 2015-2017
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.6
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/7 on financial arrangements under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.8
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/8 on reporting requirements
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.8 (see List of key decisions and outcomes of MOP-5 for editorial changes to the document)
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/9 on general issues of compliance ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.3

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/9a concerning compliance by Armenia with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.10
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9b on compliance by Austria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.11
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9c concerning compliance by Belarus with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.12
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9d concerning compliance by Bulgaria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.13
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/9e on compliance by Croatia with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.14
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9f concerning compliance by the Czech Republic with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.15
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9g concerning compliance by the European Union with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.16
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/9h concerning compliance by Germany with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.4

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9i concerning compliance by Kazakhstan with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.18
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9j concerning compliance by Romania with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.19

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9l concerning compliance by Spain with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.5
PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9m concerning compliance by Turkmenistan with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.22

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Decision V/9n concerning compliance by Ukraine with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.10

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

Decision V/9o concerning compliance by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.6 and ECE/MP.PP/2014/CRP.6/Rev.1

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

PDF
WORD

 

Action documents (Category I)

These documents are presented for possible action by delegations (for signature, endorsement, approval or adoption). They were generally submitted through and approved by the Working Group of the Parties or the Bureau.

These documents will be translated and reproduced by the Conference Services of United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) prior to the meeting.
 

Document title ENG FRE RUS
Agenda
Provisional agenda for the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties
ECE/MP.PP/2014/1
PDF
 
PDF
 
PDF
 
Decisions
Draft decision V/1 on access to information
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.1
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/2 on public participation in decision-making
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.2
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/3 on promoting effective access to justice
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.3
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD

Draft decision V/4 on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.4

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/5 on the Strategic Plan for 2015–2020
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.5
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/6 on the work programme for 2015-2017
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.6
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/7 on financial arrangements under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.7
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/8 on reporting requirements
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.8
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/9 on general issues of compliance ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.9

PDF

WORD

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/9a concerning compliance by Armenia with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.10
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9b on compliance by Austria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.11
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9c concerning compliance by Belarus with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.12
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9d concerning compliance by Bulgaria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.13
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/9e on compliance by Croatia with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.14
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9f concerning compliance by the Czech Republic with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.15
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9g concerning compliance by the European Union with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.16
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/9h concerning compliance by Germany with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.17
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9i concerning compliance by Kazakhstan with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.18
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9j concerning compliance by Romania with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.19

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9l concerning compliance by Spain with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.21
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9m concerning compliance by Turkmenistan with its obligations under the Covention ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.22

PDF

WORD

PDF
WORD
PDF
WORD
Draft decision V/9n concerning compliance by Ukraine with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.23

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

Draft decision V/9o concerning compliance by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/L.24
PDF
WORD

PDF

WORD

PDF

WORD

 

Background reports and documents (Category II)

These documents are reports on implementation and compliance and other background documents, prepared by the secretariat or subsidiary bodies of the Convention to provide a basis for discussion. These documents will be translated where feasible and reproduced by the Conference Service of United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) prior to the meeting.

The original versions of the national implementation reports (as submitted by the Parties to the secretariat) and any additional versions of the reports provided in the national language or languages, where these were provided in languages other than English, French or Russian, can be accessed from the following webpage and online reporting tool.

 

List of documents
Document title ENG FRE RUS
Information note on documents for the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties PDF _ _
Status of Implementation and Trends
Synthesis report on the status of implementation of the convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/6 PDF PDF PDF
Reports of the Compliance Committee
Report of the Compliance Committee 
ECE/MP.PP/2014/9
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Armenia with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/10
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Austria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/11
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Belarus with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/12 
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Bulgaria with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/13
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Czech Republic with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/14
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Denmark with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/15
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by European Union with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/16
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Kazakhstan with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/17
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Republic of Moldova with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/18 PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Slovakia with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/19 PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Slovakia with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/19/Add.1 PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Spain with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/20
PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Turkmenistan with its obligations under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/21 PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by Ukraine with its obligation under the Convention ECE/MP.PP/2014/22 PDF PDF PDF
Compliance by the United Kingdom with its obligations under the Convention
ECE/MP.PP/2014/23
PDF PDF PDF
Background Reports and Documents
Report on the implementation of the Convention’s work programme for 2012–2014
ECE/MP.PP/2014/3 
PDF PDF PDF
Report on contributions and expenditures in relation to the implementation of the Convention’s work programme for 2012–2014 ECE/MP.PP/2014/4 PDF PDF PDF
Report on contributions and expenditures in relation to the implementation of the Convention’s work programme for 2012–2014 ECE/MP.PP/2014/4/Corr.1 PDF PDF PDF
List of contributions and pledges for the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTRs work programmes (AC/MOP-5/Inf.2-PRTR/MOPP-2/Inf.1) PDF _ _
Report of the Task Force on Access to Justice on its seventh meeting
ECE/MP.PP/2014/5
PDF PDF PDF

Report on capacity-building ECE/MP.PP/2014/7

Accompanying document to the report AC/MOP-5/Inf.1

PDF
PDF

PDF
_
PDF
_
Maastricht recommendations on promoting effective public participation in decision-making in environmental matters ECE/MP.PP/2014/8 PDF PDF PDF

 

Category III (other documents relevant to the agenda)

These are informal documents related to the agenda of the meeting. Category III documents will not be assigned any symbol, but can be listed on the official website (as received). Neither the secretariat nor the host country are responsible for translating or copying Category III documents.

Document title
Fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties
ENG FRE RUS
6 (b) Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international forums      
Open Letter to co-chairs and all the member states of the OWG on SDGs PDF    

Intersessional Documents of Relevance to the Agenda (Category II)

These documents are reports and related documents produced during the intersessional period (2012-2014), prepared by the secretariat or subsidiary bodies of the Convention. These documents have been translated and published where feasible by UNOG Conference Services in conjunction with the meetings for which they were produced.

Working Group of the Parties      
Document name ENG FRE RUS
Report of the seventeenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention - advance edited copy (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2014/2) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the sixteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/2) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the fifteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2012/2) PDF PDF PDF
       
Bureau      
For the reports of the Bureau on its 28th to 34th meetings, see the following webpage      
       
Compliance Committee      
For the reports of the Compliance Committee on its 33rd to 44th meetings, see the following webpage      
       
Meetings of the Task Forces, workshops, round table and capacity-building coordination      
Access to Information      
Report of the Task Force on Access to Information on its second meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2014/4) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Task Force on Access to Information on its first meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/5) PDF PDF PDF
Public Participation in Decision-making      
Report of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making on its fourth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/6) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making on its third meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/4) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making on its second meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2012/4) PDF PDF PDF
Access to Justice      
Report of the Task Force on Access to Justice on its seventh meeting (ECE/MP.PP/2014/5) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Task Force on Access to Justice on its sixth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2014/5) PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Task Force on Access to Justice on its fifth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2012/5) PDF PDF PDF
Report on the subregional meeting “Implementing the Aarhus Convention Today: Paving the Way to a Better Environment and Governance Tomorrow” (AC/WGP-15/Inf.1) PDF - -
Public Participation in International Forums      
For reports of the Thematic session on Public Participation in International Forums see respective section of the reports on the meeting of the Working Group of the Parties above      
GMOs      
Report of the Joint round table on access to information, public participation and access to justice regarding living modified organisms/genetically modified organisms (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2014/6) PDF PDF PDF
Capacity-building coordination      
Report on the eighth Aarhus Convention capacity-building coordination meeting (AC/WGP-17/Inf.3) PDF - -
Report on the seventh Aarhus Convention capacity-building coordination meeting (AC/WGP-15/Inf.2) PDF - -
       

Documents distribution policy

In order to minimize the negative environmental impact of the meetings, the following policy regarding distribution of the documents will be applied during the eighteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (General Segment), the second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on PRTRs (General Segment) and their Joint High-Level Segment.

Documents
(a) Pre-session documents
Participants should ensure that they have all pre-session documents that they require for the meetings. There will be no distribution of hard copies of the pre-session documents in the meeting rooms.
Delegations are requested to bring laptops to the meetings. Wi-fi connection will be provided in meeting rooms. Electric current in the Netherlands is AC 220-230V/50Hz. Sockets fit round two-pin plugs (use of adapters is necessary for all devices).

(b) In-session documents
In-session documents will be revised in track changes at meetings and projected live on screen in the meeting room.
Participants will be informed about a link to the webpage with the documents as revised and approved at the meeting. The revised documents will be uploaded to this web page http://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhus/mop5_docs.html as soon as they become available.

(c) Post-session documents
Post-session documents will be made available after the meeting in electronic form on the UNECE web page (http://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhus/mop5_docs.html).

Statements
Delegations wishing to distribute copies of their statements should inform the UNECE secretariat prior to their distribution and are encouraged to provide the secretariat with electronic copies prior to the meeting.
Please send your statements to [email protected]. Statements received by the UNECE Secretariat before Wednesday, 25 June 2014, can be uploaded to the UNECE web page upon request.
Those delegations that wish to distribute hard copies of their statements are required to inform the UNECE secretariat prior to their distribution and bring sufficient number of copies to the meeting room or distribute them through designated pigeon-holes at the meetings’ venue.
Final text of statements delivered at the sessions will be uploaded to the UNECE web page (http://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhus/mop5_docs.html) after the meeting.

Printing facilities for delegates
As paper-smart policy will apply for these meetings, delegates are strongly discouraged to print documents. If printing, however, cannot be avoided, the meeting venue will provide for a computer, photocopying and printing centre where delegations could print limited number of in-session documents free of charge.

Keynote addresses and statements

Statements delivered by Parties and stakeholders at the eighteenth Meeting of the Working Group of the Parties and at the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties are uploaded in the table below, as being made available to the secretariat.

Agenda item / statement
Fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties
ENG FRE RUS
1. Opening of the session      
Welcome address by Mayor of Maastricht PDF    
Welcome address by Secretary General Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment PDF    
3. Status of ratification of the Convention and of the amendment to the Convention      
Statement by Switzerland PDF    
4. Substantive issues      
4 (a) Access to information      
Report of the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Information     PDF
Statement by Switzerland PDF    
4 (b) Public participation in decision-making      
Report of the Chair of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making PDF    
Statement by the EU and MS at WGP-18

PDF
DOC

   
Comment by the EU and MS at WGP-18 PDF
DOC
   
Statement by Ireland regarding funding of the task force on public participation in decision-making PDF    
Statement by REC PDF    
4(c) Access to justice      
Report of the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Justice PDF    
Statement by Serbia PDF    
Statement of Ms Dilara Arstanbaeva, Supreme Court Judge of the Kyrgyz Republic  PDF   PDF
Statement by REC PDF    
4(d) Genetically modified organisms      
Report by the Chair of the round table on GMOs PDF    
Statement by Ecoropa and by Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) PDF    
5 Procedures and mechanisms facilitating the implementation of the Convention        
5(a) Reports on the status of implementation of the  Convention      
Statement by Bosnia and Herzegovina PDF    
Statement by Friends of the Earth, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and WWF-UK PDF    
Statement by Friends of the Earth Scotland PDF    
5(b) Compliance mechanism      
Report by the Chair of the Compliance Committee, Mr Jonas Ebbesson  PDF    
Statement by the EU and MS at WGP-18 on general issues of compliance DOC    
Comment by the EU and MS at WGP-18 on general issues of compliance DOC    
Statement by Austria (on compliance regarding communication ACCC/C/2011/63) PDF    
Statement by Denmark (on compliance regarding communication ACCC/C/2011/57) PDF    
Statement by the EU and MS on compliance by Belarus PDF    
Statement by Germany (on compliance regarding draft decision V/9h) PDF    
Statement by Spain (on legal aid to environmental NGOs, in connection with draft decision V/9l) PDF    
Statement by Ukraine (on drafting proposal regarding Draft decision on compliance by Ukraine) PDF   PDF
Drafting proposal by Ukraine (regarding Draft decision on compliance by Ukraine) PDF    
Statement by the United Kingdom (on compliance regarding communication ACCC/C/2010/53) PDF    
Statement by the United Kingdom to Draft Decision V-9o (22 June 2014) PDF    
Statement by the United Kingdom to agenda item 5(b) (30 June 2014) PDF    
Statement by civil society organizations regarding compliance by Armenia PDF    
Statement by Ecohome (NGO, Belarus) PDF    
5(c) Capacity building      
Statement by REC PDF    
6(b) Promotion of the Convention’s principles in international forums      
Report by the Chair of the thematic session on public participation in international forums PDF    
Statement by Norway at WGP-18 PDF    
Statement by the EU and MS at WGP-18 PDF
DOC
   
Statement by the European Investment Bank PDF    
Statement by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development PDF    
Statement by European ECO Forum PDF    
6(c) Global and regional developments on issues related to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development       
Statement by United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean PDF    
Statement by Chile PDF    
Statement by Costa Rica PDF    
Statement by Myanmar PDF    
Statement by REC PDF    
Statement by Ecuadorian Center for Environmental Law and by Jamaica Environment Trust (NGOs) PDF    
Statement by European ECO Forum PDF    
Statement by Quaker United Nations Office PDF    
6(d) Update on United Nations Environment Programme initiatives on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters      
Statement by UNEP PDF    
Statement by World Resources Institute and by the Access Initiative Network (NGOs) PDF    
6(e) Synergies between the Convention and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements and organizations      
Statement by Ecoropa, Women in Europe for a Common Future and European ECO-Forum PDF    
7(a) Implementation of the work programme for 2012-2014      
Statement by Belarus PDF   PDF
7(b) Strategic Plan 2015-2020      
Statement by REC PDF    
7(c) Work Programme 2015-2017      
Statement by REC PDF    
7(d) Financial Arrangements      
Statement by the EU and MS at WGP-18

PDF

   
Comment by the EU and MS at WGP-18 DOC    
Comment by the EU and MS at MOP-5 DOC    
Statement by the EU and MS at MOP-5 on the financial arrangements PDF    
Statement by the EU at MOP-5 on the EU contribution PDF    
Comment by Norway at WGP-18

DOC

   

Communication activities

IISD Guest articles and daily coverage
IISD, our communication partner for official meetings, has published two IISD Guest articles by Mr. Jit Peters and Mr. Michel Amand, respective Chairs of the Meetings of the Parties.
Available at
http://uncsd.iisd.org/guest-articles/achieving-sustainable-development-the-power-is-in-your-hands/
http://chemicals-l.iisd.org/guest-articles/informed-choices-measuring-progress-and-advertising-advances-through-transparent-public-and-private-pollutant-management-the-protocol-on-prtrs/

IISD is producing daily web coverage of the meetings in Maastricht and will also be publishing a summary report shortly after the completion of the meetings.

Special edition of the UNECE Weekly
Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTRs: Maastricht meetings in the spirit of a people-centred post-2015 development agenda
Read about highlights of the upcoming meetings, short interviews, off the press section and the buzz in the special edition at
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/highlights/unece_weekly/weekly_2014/Weekly585-Final.pdf

Leaflet on Global round table on PRTRs
A leaflet on Global round table on PRTRs with key outcomes of the meeting is available from the following page link

If you were in Maastricht there were additional applications you might find useful:  

App for the meeting
The host country launched a new practice and has developed an app with all practical information for the Maastricht meetings. The app was available for download from m.twoppy.com/Aarhus.

Live broadcast of the HLS

The High level segment was broadcasted live. Live broadcast of the HLS was available from the website www.aarhusmaastricht.org. This might be of interest to the Aarhus community not being able to join us in Maastricht.

The thematic session of the HLS comprised of two panels each with a different topic: the first on the issue of the right to information and environmental democracy and the second on the issue of the right to information and social media. The programme of the High-level segment, including its thematic session, is available here.


Tweeting

It was also possible to join the discussions by sending tweets to #AarhusMaastricht; #AarhusConvention; and #PRTRProtocol.