Compliance and Implementation of the Convention

Activities under the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on SEA
(period between 6th and 7th sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention, 2014-2017)

See also the previous activity relating to compliance and implementation:

Sub-activity	Expected Outcome
1. Consideration by the Implementation Committee of compliance submissions.	Recommendations on compliance submissions.
2. Report on the Committee’s activities to MOP7 and MOP/MOP3.	Reports of the Committee meetings and a synthesis report to MOP7 and MOP/MOP3.
3. If necessary, review of the Committee’s structure and functions and operating rules.	Possible revision of the Committee’s structure and functions and operating rules.
4. Examination of the outcome of the fourth review of implementation of the Convention and the first review of implementation of the Protocol.	Summary of compliance issues from the fourth review of implementation of the Convention and the first review of implementation of the Protocol.
5. Modification of the questionnaires for the report on implementation of the Convention and, as appropriate, the Protocol, in 2013–2015.	Modified questionnaires
6. Distribution of the questionnaire to the Parties to the Convention and to the Protocol for them to complete and return.	Completed questionnaires.
7. Preparation of draft reviews of implementation of the Convention and the Protocol	Draft fifth review of implementation of the Convention and draft second review of implementation of the Protocol for consideration by the Implementation Committee, the Working Group on EIA and SEA, MOP7 and MOP/MOP3.
8. Reviews of legislation, procedures and practice, and technical assistance in drafting legislation, to strengthen Parties’ implementation of and compliance with the Convention and the Protocol. Prompted by the Implementation Committee or requested by Parties themselves, as follows:	Recommendations on strengthening capacity, including amendments to legislation, procedures and institutional arrangements.
(a) Country-specific reviews, including a period in-country examining national legislation and based on earlier reviews further to decision IV/2. Parties experiencing similar problems might be assisted jointly:
(i) Technical advice to Armenia on improving legislation to implement the Protocol and advice in drafting necessary amendments and legislation;
(ii) Technical advice and support to Kyrgyzstan on improving legislation as well as the institutional framework to implement the Convention;	Draft law on EIA.
(iii) Technical advice to Azerbaijan on improving legislation to implement the Convention;	Draft implementing regulations.
(b) Subregional overview based on legislative reviews on EIA and SEA combined with information gathered when developing general guidance on enhancing consistency between the Convention and environmental assessment within the framework of State ecological expertise.	Subregional overview of SEA and EIA systems prepared and disseminated.
9. Pre-accession legislative assistance:	Recommendations to the country on strengthening capacity, including amendments to legislation, procedures and institutional arrangements
(a) Technical advice to Azerbaijan on improving legislation to implement the Protocol and advice in drafting necessary amendments;
(b) Technical assistance to Belarus in drafting legislation to implement the Protocol (building on the existing legislative review);
(c) Technical assistance to Georgia in drafting legislation to implement the Convention and the Protocol (building on the existing legislative review);
(d) Technical advice to Kazakhstan on improving legislation to implement the Protocol and advice in drafting necessary amendments;
(e) Technical advice to the Russian Federation;
10. Collection of findings and opinions from the Committee regarding the Convention and the Protocol, posted on website.	Online collection of the Committee’s findings and opinions.
11. Alignment of the authentic language versions of the Protocol and the two amendments to the Convention:s and opinions.	Proposals for aligning the text of the Protocol.
(a) Identification and review of inconsistencies;
(b) Preparation of proposals for addressing the inconsistencies (through correction or amendment procedures).
12. Preparation of guidance on the implementation of the Convention (drawing on opinions of the Implementation Committee).	Guidance document.
13. Further development and update of the Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context for Central Asian Countries.	Guidelines on EIA for Central Asian Countries.
14. Preparation of a video to promote the benefits of the Convention and the Protocol in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus	1–3 minute video clip