Access to documents and environmental information held by EU institutions and bodies

In July 2011, ClientEarth opened the European Union (EU) Aarhus Centre in Brussels. Our vision is to create a dedicated centre of expertise combining thought-leadership, capacity-building and debate with strategic legal actions. We are meeting a need to drive forward the five principles of openness, transparency, participation, accountability and effectiveness within EU institutions’ activities and policies to protect, preserve and improve the state of the environment.

Our centre takes its name from the flagship ‘Aarhus Convention’, the most progressive international agreement for environmental justice. In particular our centre will work to ensure that citizens and NGOs are able to exercise the three fundamental rights granted them by the Aarhus Convention; of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.