What is the EEB doing?
The EEB has been heavily involved in the processes for Access to Information and adequate Public Participation for a long time.

By the end of the 1990s, the European Commission began discussions on an improved relationship with the public and with non-governmental organisations. In December 2002 this led to "General principles and minimum standards for consultation of interested parties by the Commission". The EEB has criticised this document as it does not establish rights for the citizen and because it might be interpreted that internet consultations or events organised by the Economic and Social Committee can replace direct discussions with senior level Commission representatives.

The EEB keeps a close eye on how these principles and standards will be implemented.

As regards the Aarhus convention, the EEB is playing a co-ordinating role in the ongoing campaign of environmental citizens' organisations working together in the European ECO-Forum, to make the Aarhus Convention work in the entire European Region. In October, the first Meeting of Parties to the Convention took place, and John Hontelez, Secretary General of the EEB, was invited to be the NGO observer to the Bureau of the Convention, a quite unique event for international legally binding frameworks.

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	For more information, please contact: John Hontelez email: hontelez@eeb.org Mara Silina email: mara.silina@eeb.org