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The Århus Convention

This article considers the Aarhus convention. This convention has been ratified by 40 countries, mainly from the Europe and Central Asia. The Aarhus convention has also been ratified by the European Union and is an important basis for the Water Framework Directive.

The Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was agreed by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 1998. It provides certain rights for the public and imposes obligations to authorities regarding access to information and justice as well as to decision-making structures through public participation.

It is the first international treaty which sets down "the right of every person of present and future generations to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being" - however only in reference to the procedural rights the convention covers. It acknowledges that the obligation to present and future generations can be achieved only through the involvement of all stakeholders. It is advocating a new understanding for public involvement in the negotiation processes of international agreements.