Lithuania elected to Implementation Committee (Espoo Convention), Belarusian NPP confirmed to fail to comply with requirements of Espoo Convention
On 2-5 June in Geneva, Parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) positively evaluated experience and work of Lithuanian institutions in strengthening the Convention – Lithuania was elected to the Implementation Committee (Espoo Convention), which monitors the implementation of the Convention.
Moreover, the appointment of Lithuania’s representative as the Chairman of the Working Group of the Convention and a member of the Espoo Convention Bureau was confirmed.
The Implementation Committee (Espoo Convention) considers compliance of the projects planned to be carried out by the states with the international environmental standards in making the environmental impact assessment, puts forward conclusions and recommendations with respect to solving disputes that arise.
Also, the conclusions drawn by the Espoo Committee and the recommendations put forward with respect to non-compliance of the Belarusian nuclear power plant project with the requirements of the Espoo Convention, which were adopted on 15 April 2013, were approved at that high-level meeting of the Parties. Belarus was encouraged to fulfil the requirements of the Espoo Convention and take into consideration the key issues raised by Lithuania. It was also suggested that Belarus should approach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which would carry out an independent assessment of the nuclear power plant site selected by Belarus. Non-compliance of the actions taken by Belarus with the requirements of the Convention in implementing the nuclear power plant project will be further considered at the Implementation Committee (Espoo Convention).
The Espoo Convention, whose members are all Member States of the European Union, as well as Canada, and the states of Central Asia and Caucasus, is one of the most significant instruments of multilateral cooperation in implementing the projects that can have a cross-border effect. The Convention provides for a specific collaborative process and dispute resolution mechanisms.
