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Esileht » Valdkonnad » Rahvusvaheline koostöö » Rahvusvahelised lepped » Arhusi konventsioon
Date: 10 October 2000 Place: MoE Participants: Allan Gromov, Rita Annus, Andrus Meiner, Toomas Trapido, Mihkel Vaarik, Valdur Lahtvee, Mai Zernask, Kaidi Tingas, Jacob H. Simonsen Not attending: Hanno Zingel, Kai Helm, Maila Kuusik, Erik Peterson Prepared by: Jacob H. Simonsen, 10 October 2000 Distribution: All members of the Steering Committee Minutes of 3rd Steering Committee meeting 1. Activities carried out Jacob H. Simonsen presented the Draft Progress Report, and outlined the status of ongoing and completed activities. The project is, at present, being conducted according to plan. The finalisation of some of the remaining activities (Booklet, Guideline and PR-campaign) may however provide a challenge as the legal framework is not yet in place. It was therefore suggested that the project be extended (see section 3). The figures estimating the degree of completion in the progress report are an expression of the project team's evaluation on the completion of the tasks. The numbers can not be taken as precise figures, but only as an indication of the project progress. 2. Discussion papers Five out of six discussion papers have been prepared. Four discussion papers have been discussed at Round Table meetings. The fifth discussion paper (public participation in specific activities, plans, programmes, policies and legally binding instruments) will be discussed at a Round Table meeting at the end of the month or in the beginning of November. The last discussion paper regarding co-ordination of hearing procedures is not yet developed is soon to be initiated. 3. Extension of the project The project team recommended that the current project should be extended to cover the III pillar to the Aarhus Convention (Access to Justice). The following reasons support the recommendation: * Implementing access to justice will strengthen implementation of the Convention in Estonia * All aspects of the Aarhus Convention would be covered ensuring full and transparent implementation * Estonia has taken the lead in the UN/ECE taskforce on access to justice. Supporting the Estonia efforts to implement the III pillar will therefore be of high priority to Estonia * Extension will safeguard better planning of remaining activities The steering committee supported the idea that the scope of the project should be broadened to include the III pillar of the Aarhus Convention (Access to Justice). A tentative time schedule was discussed – the work with the III Pillar could be initiated in January 2001 and could be concluded December 2002. Some of the activities of the current project should be postponed until the legal framework is in place. At the moment, it is envisaged that this should be sometime before summer 2001, but the internal political process in Estonia regarding the many different draft acts that supports the implementation of the AaC is uncertain. The activities shall be concluded as soon as possible but no later than December 2002 when the work with the III pillar is scheduled to be concluded. The Steering Committee unanimously recommended that the current project should be extended to cover the implementation of the third pillar of the Aarhus Convention in Estonia. MoE will kindly request Dancee to provide the additional funding needed for the completion of this task. The question regarding the dissemination of Pollution Emissions (PR/TR) was raised and discussed. It was the general feeling of the Steering Committee that the issue was relevant but needed additional international clarification – especially from the EU before Estonia could take further steps to develop a uniform (national/international) reporting system. 4. Pilot project The pilot project is awaiting contract negotiations between MoE and PIC-Estonia regarding the more specific site selection of the landfill for South East Estonia. Since the selection has not yet been made, it has been difficult to involve the public, such as landowners etc., in the decision making process. The pilot project has nevertheless provided very good opportunities for public involvement early in the decision making process (as demanded in the AaC). Several meetings, on regional and municipal levels, have been held and the pilot project has thus provided good training possibilities. There has been a broad debate in the media (radio and newspapers) and people have been given the possibilities to participate. 5. Approval of progress report The Steering Committee unanimously approved the progress report of 7 May 2000. Next Steering Committee meeting will be held in December – the date will be fixed at later |
