Access to justice of the European Union in environmental matters

Cilj ovog rada je ispitati način na koji je Europska unija provela u svoje zakonodavstvo odredbe o pristupu pravosuđu iz Konvencije o pristupu informacijama, sudjelovanju javnosti u odlučivanju i pristupu u pitanjima okoliša (tzv. Aarhuške konvencije). U tom cilju analizirat će se Uredba br. 1367/2006 o primjeni odredaba Aarhuške konvencije o pristupu informacijama, sudjelovanju javnosti i pristupu pravosuđu u pitanjima okoliša na institucije i tijela Unije (tzv. Aarhuška uredba). Navedena uredba uz Ugovor o funkcioniranju Europske unije pruža pojedincima pristup sudu u pitanjima okoliša. Prikazat će se nedostatci navedene Uredbe koji su doveli do podnošenja pritužbe Odboru za praćenje usklađenosti s Aarhuškom konvencijom. Nakon toga prikazat će se koraci koje je Unija poduzela kako bi ispravila nedostatke na koje ju je Odbor upozorio i uskladila svoje zakonodavstvo s međunarodnim obvezama koje proizlaze iz Aarhuške konvencije. Uz to istražit će se i shvaćanja i stajališta institucija i Suda Europske unije u pogledu pristupa pojedinaca i nevladinih organizacija sudovima Unije. Na posljetku prikazat će se odredbe Uredbe br. 2021/1767 kojom je izmijenjena Aarhuška uredba, razlozi usvojenih izmjena te ispitati hoće li nove izmjene pojedincima omogućiti lakši pristup Sudu Europske unije.The aim of this paper is to examine the way in which the European Union has implemented in its legislation the provisions on access to justice guaranteed by the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Conventions). To that end, the provisions of Regulation No 1367/2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies (the Aarhus Regulation) will be analyzed. The said Regulation along with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides individuals with access to justice in environmental matters. The shortcomings of the said Regulation that led to the complaint to the Aarhus Convention's Compliance Committee will be presented. The paper will then show the steps taken by the Union to remedy the shortcomings to which the Committee has alerted it and to bring its legislation in line with the international obligations arising from the Aarhus Convention. In addition, the understandings and case law of the institutions and the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the access of individuals and NGOs to the courts of the Union will be explored. In the end the provisions and reasons for enactment of Regulation No 2021/1767 that amends the Aarhus Regulation will be presented with a review on whether these changes will ease access to the Court of Justice of the European Union in environmental matters