Fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), Second session of MOP to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs MOPP-2) and their Joint High-Level Segment

The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP 5) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) continued on Tuesday, 1 July, in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

The MOP convened in plenary throughout the day. The MOP continued consideration of the composition of the Compliance Committee and then addressed sub-items under the agenda item on promotion of the Convention and relevant developments and interlinkages, including: accession to the Convention by States from outside of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region; promotion of the Convention’s principles in international forums; global and regional developments on issues related to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; update on the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) initiatives on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters; and synergies between the Convention and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and organizations.

The MOP also considered sub-items under the agenda item on the programme of work and operation of the Convention, including: the implementation of the work programme for 2012-2014; the Strategic Plan for 2015-2020; the work programme for 2015-2017; and financial arrangements. The day concluded with the MOP addressing the report on credentials with regard to the Convention’s parties, election of officers and other members of the Bureau, the date and venue of the sixth session of the MOP (MOP 6) and any other business.

The forty-fifth meeting of the Compliance Committee under the Aarhus Convention continued, with delegates considering the preparation of draft findings on compliance by specific parties. During lunch an open dialogue session with parties and stakeholders on procedures with new communications, use of domestic remedies and other matters was held.

Side events engaged participants on a variety of issues, including: building peace through access rights - preventing conflict around water, land and food; strengthening the impact of the compliance mechanism - how can the implementation of MOP recommendations be improved; advancing access and dissemination of environmental information and public participation through electronic information; a workshop on access to justice; promoting the spirit of Aarhus - creation of an informal network on citizens’ information and participation to public decision-making; and A2 Maastricht - one single plan for the city and the motorway.