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Sixteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention

19 - 21 June 2013
Geneva Switzerland

The sixteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention was held on 19-21 June 2013 in Geneva (Palais des Nations, Salle V). The Working Group reviewed the progress in implementing the current work programme and discussed a number of items in preparation for the fifth ordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties, including:

  • Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention;
  • Assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions;
  • Future strategic plan 2015-2020 and future work programme 2015-2017;
  • Elements of possible financial arrangements; and
  • Agenda for the fifth ordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties.

 

Furthermore, the meeting featured a thematic session on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums which was organised in the format of panel presentations followed by an interactive discussion.

Prior to the sixteenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties a meeting of the Task Force on Access to Justice was organized from 17-18 June 2013 in Geneva.

Documents

Documents ENG FRE RUS
Provisional Agenda (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/1) PDF PDF PDF
List of decisions and major outcomes of the meeting 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 on the implementation of the work programme for 2012-2014 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/3) PDF PDF PDF
Item 3 (a)      

Report of the first meeting of the Task Force on Access to Information (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/5)

PDF

PDF PDF
Note by the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Information (AC/WGP-16/Inf.1) PDF    
Item 3 (b)      

Report of the third meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/4)

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Report of the fourth meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/6)

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Note by the Chair of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-making (AC/WGP-16/Inf.2)

PDF    
Item 3 (c)      

Note by the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Justice (AC/WGP-16/Inf.3)

PDF    
Item 4 (a)      

Membership of the Compliance Committee (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/11)

PDF

PDF PDF

Note by the Chair of the Compliance Committee on promoting effective compliance with the Convention (AC/WGP-16/Inf.7)

PDF    
Item 4 (b)      

Outcomes of the survey on the Communication Strategy (AC/WGP-16/Inf.4)

PDF    
Item 4 (c)      
2014 reporting cycle training: Experiences PDF    
2014 reporting cycle training: Practical considerations PDF    
Item 7 : Thematic session on promoting the principles of the Convention in international forums (PPIF)      
Provisional detailed agenda PDF    
"3 minute survey" on measures at the national level to systematically promote PPIF DOC    
Draft checklist of measures to be borne in mind when developing national action plans on PPIF DOC    
Arrangements for intergovernmental meetings, Note by the Executive Secretary to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC/SBC/2013/4) (refer paras. 29-35) PDF    
Decision 27/2 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (refer pages 25-27 of the Proceedings of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its first universal session (UNEP/GC.27/17)) PDF    

Note by the Chair of the thematic session on public participation in international forums (AC/WGP-16/Inf.5)

PDF    
Item 8 (a)      
Draft Strategic Plan for 2015–2020 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/7)

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DOC

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DOC
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DOC
Item 8 (b) (i)      

Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/8)

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Accompanying document 1 to the Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention (AC/WGP-16/Inf.8) PDF    
Accompanying document 2 to the Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention (AC/WGP-16/Inf.9) PDF    
Item 8 (b) (ii)      

Draft elements of the work programme for 2015–2017 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/12)

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DOC

PDF
DOC
PDF
DOC
Item 8 (c) (i)      

Assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/9)

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Accompanying document to the Assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions (AC/WGP-16/Inf.10) PDF    
Item 8 (c) (ii)      

Draft elements of possible financial arrangements under the Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/10)

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DOC

PDF
DOC

PDF
DOC
Item 8 (d)      

Outline of the agenda of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/13)

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DOC

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DOC
PDF
DOC

Note on the preparatory timeline for the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (AC/WGP-16/Inf.6)

PDF    

Statements and comments

  Format
Statements in and post-meeting  
Agenda item 3(a): Substantive issues: Access to information   
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 3(a): Substantive issues: Access to information  PDF
Statement by Serbia on the agenda item 3(a): Substantive issues: Access to information  PDF
Statement by the Republic of Moldova on  the agenda item 3(a): Substantive issues: Access to information  PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 3(a): Substantive issues: Access to information  PDF
Agenda item 3(b): Substantive issues: Public participation in decision-making   
Statement by the Chair of the Task Force on Public Participation in decision-making on the agenda item 3(b): Substantive issues: Public participation in decision-making  PDF
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 3(b): Substantive issues: Public participation in decision-making  PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 3(b): Substantive issues: Public participation in decision-making  PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 3(b): Substantive issues: Public participation in decision-making, additional statement  PDF
Agenda item 3(c): Substantive issues: Access to justice  
Statement by the Chair of the Task Force on Access to Justice on  the agenda item 3(c): Substantive issues: Access to justice PDF
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 3(c): Substantive issues: Access to justice PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 3(c): Substantive issues: Access to justice PDF
Agenda item 4(a): Procedures and mechanism: Compliance mechanism   
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 4(a): Procedures and mechanism: Compliance mechanism  PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 4(a): Procedures and mechanism: Compliance mechanism PDF
Agenda item 5: Accession by non-UNECE States and promotion of the Convention's principles in other regions  
Statement by the Government of Chile on the agenda item 5: Accession by non-UNECE States and promotion of the Convention's principles in other regions PDF
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 5: Accession by non-UNECE States and promotion of the Convention's principles in other regions  PDF
Agenda item 6:Implementation of the work-programme for 2012-2014, including financial arrangements  
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 6:Implementation of the work-programme for 2012-2014, including financial arrangements PDF
Agenda item 7: Promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums  
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 7: Promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums PDF
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 7: Promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums, as prepared and delivered to the secretariat after the meeting PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 7: Promotion of the principles of the Convention in international forums, in relation to forestry agreement PDF
Agenda item 8(a): Future strategic plan  
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(a): Future strategic plan  PDF
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(a): Future strategic plan - updated on 25 July 2013 PDF
Statement by the European ECO-Forum on the agenda item 8(a): Future strategic plan PDF
Agenda item 8(b)(i): Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention  
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(b)(i): Evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention PDF
Agenda item 8(b)(ii): Future work programme  
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(b)(ii): Future work programme PDF
Agenda item 8(c)(i): Assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions   
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(c)(i): Assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions  PDF
Agenda item 8(c)(ii): Future financial arrangements uner the Convention   
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(c)(ii): Future financial arrangements uner the Convention  PDF
Agenda item 8(d) and (e): Agenda and hosting of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties   
Statement by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the agenda item 8(d) and (e): Agenda and hosting of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties  PDF
   
Comments to the draft evaluation and draft assessment  
Item 8 (b) (i)  
Comments by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the in-depth evaluation of the current functioning and implementation of the Convention (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/8) PDF
Item 8 (c) (i)  

Comments by the EU and its Member States and Croatia on the draft assessment of the current interim scheme of contributions (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2013/9)

PDF

PPIF thematic session

Documents:      
Provisional detailed agenda PDF    
"3 minute survey" on measures at the national level to systematically promote PPIF DOC    
Draft checklist of measures to be borne in mind when developing national action plans on PPIF DOC    
Note by the Chair of the thematic session on public participation in international forums (AC/WGP-16/Inf.5) PDF    
Arrangements for intergovernmental meetings, Note by the Executive Secretary to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC/SBC/2013/4) (refer paras. 29-35) PDF    
Decision 27/2 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (refer pages 25-27 of the Proceedings of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its first universal session (UNEP/GC.27/17)) PDF    
Presentations:      
Session 1:     Follow up from the previous thematic session      

Update on the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development:

     
Ms. Joanna Cornelius, on behalf of European ECO Forum PDF    

Update on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

     
UNFCCC secretariat PDF    
Mr. Sébastien Duyck, on behalf of Climate Action Network and European ECO Forum PDF    
Session 2:     The new United Nations Environment Assembly      
Mr. Philippe Ramet, Ministère de l'Ecologie, de l'Energie, du Dévelopmment Durable et de l'Aménagement de Territoire, France      
Mr. Alexander Juras, United Nations Environment Programme PDF    
Ms. Gita Parihar, on behalf of European ECO Forum PDF    
Session 3:     Policy reviews by international financial institutions      
Ms. Elizabeth Smith, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development PDF    
Ms. Adina Relicovschi, European Investment Bank PDF    
Ms. Selina Jackson, World Bank PDF    
Mr. Petr Hlobil, CEE Bankwatch PDF