Access to justice update from ClientEarth and Justice&Environment

Our opinion

EU Commission lays out options to comply with the Aarhus Convention: light at the end of the tunnel?
Two years after being found in breach of the Aarhus Convention for not allowing members of the public to challenge decisions of EU institutions before the EU courts, the European Commission finally laid out some options to come into compliance...
Opinion by Anaïs Berthier

Our analysis

Greek Council of State establishes new test for NGO standing in transboundary cases
On 13 September 2019, the Greek Council of State (highest administrative court) rendered judgment in a case brought by ClientEarth and WWF Greece, with the support of Greenpeace, against the renewal of the permit of coal-fired power plants Megalapoli A and B.
Analysis by Sebastian Bechtel

Environmental activists access EU court by breaking the law
In this case, the Court of Justice had the opportunity to confirm the basic principles of its jurisdiction in preliminary references dealing with the validity of EU legislation. The case also serves as a stark reminder that, in the field of environmental protection, it is still easier to access the EU Courts by breaking the law than by lodging a direct action under Article 263 TFEU.
Analysis by Anne Friel

The CJEU issued two landmark judgments on the Polish judicial system
In November 2019 the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU) issued two landmark judgments concerning the independence of the judiciary in Poland
Analysis by Malgorzata Kwiędacz-Palosz

Court of Justice confirms standing of individuals to challenge Nitrate Action Programmes
In its newest addition to its access to justice case law, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) confirmed that directly concerned individuals have the right to challenge inadequate Nitrate Action Programmes in their national courts.
Analysis by Sebastian Bechtel

Our events

Webinar 3: Access to environmental information – how to tackle contentious exceptions
The webinar “Access to environmental information – how to tackle contentious exceptions” will be held on December 5th 2019, from 12:30-1:45 GMT+1.
Sign up here

Discussion on the Polish bill of the so-called coal mining special act
In Poland, the controversial bill of the coal mining special act, which allows the express opening of new coal mines without any citizens’ control, was not subject to public consultation. To discuss the nature and consequence of this bill, ClientEarth lawyers met with lawyers, representatives of public administration and non-governmental organisations.
Read our report

ClientEarth Poland trains NGOs on Access to Justice
On 25 September, ClientEarth held its sixth training within the framework of the project “Access to Justice for a Greener Europe” at the European Commission Representation in Poland. It was addressed to representatives of non-governmental organizations.
Read our report

Hungary organized 3rd training on Access to Justice
The event held on the 1st of October was hosted by the Pest County Government Office, the administrative agency that includes the second instance environmental authority in Hungary.
Read our report