ClientEarth has set up an Aarhus centre focusing on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention by the EU institutions.   The new EU Aarhus Centre offers NGOs and citizens’ groups top-level legal advice on their rights to information, participation and justice in environmental matters provided under the Aarhus Convention. The Centre supports the development and enforcement of these rights by providing training and advice, monitoring the practices of EU institutions, bodies and agencies and creating a space for dialogue between NGOs and the EU institutions as well as organising events and publish materials on the issue.

image: heathbrandon

Access to information is a human right. It is also a great lever for the implementation of other rights and underlies any other activities civil society aspire to conduct. Without access to information there is nothing the NGO community may achieve. That is why the current review of  the laws on access to documents held by EU institutions is so important.