Conference "Current issues of access to justice in environmental matters" Berlin, 03.06.2019

Monday, 03.06.2019, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

House of Democracy and Human Rights,

Robert Havemann Hall

Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin

 

The Environmental Appeals Act, which was amended in 2017, extended the rights of recognized environmental associations to take legal action. In parts, however, it fell short of the requirements of European law and the Aarhus Convention. The workshop will therefore focus on the current implementation of the third pillar of the Aarhus Convention and current case law on access to justice.

Furthermore, the recognition requirements for environmental associations in Germany will be focused on and discussed against the background of the currently pending proceedings before the Compliance Committee of the Aarhus Convention for the recognition of the WWF.

Another presentation will discuss whether the cost risk for the associations bringing the action represents an obstacle to access to justice within the meaning of the Aarhus Convention. A concluding discussion on trends and challenges in the use of legal means in environmental matters will round off the workshop.

The workshop is part of the EU project “Access to justice for a greener Europe – A2J EARL”. The project aims to strengthen effective access to justice in environmental matters in eight EU countries. Further information can be found at: https://www.ufu.de/projekt/a2j-earl/

 

Registration/contact: Louisa Hantsche, Independent Institute for Environmental Issues, Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin;

Tel.: 030 428 4993 36 / E-Mail: louisa.hantsche@ufu.de

Program

Moderation: Alexandra Tryjanowski, UfU

09:30 Registration of participants, coffee and tea

10:00 Welcome & introduction to the project background: Access to justice for a greener Europe – A2J EARL

Louisa Hantsche, UfU

10:10 a.m. Current priorities in the implementation of the third pillar of the Aarhus Convention

Dagmar Lutz / Matthias Sauer, BMU

10:30 a.m. Current case law on access to court

Lawyer Ursula Philipp-Gerlach, Frankfurt a.M.

11:00 am Recognition requirements for environmental associations in Germany

Daniel Lamfried, UBA

11:25 am Commentary on the recognition of environmental associations in the light of disputed compliance cases

Dr. Michael Zschiesche, UfU

11:45 a.m. Cost risk in court proceedings in Germany. On compatibility with the Aarhus Convention

Attorney Dirk Teßmer, Frankfurt a.M.

12:15 p.m. Discussion on the current challenges for access to justice in Germany

Moderated by Alexandra Tryjanowski, UfU

13:00 Light lunch and end of the event

 

Event information: From 14:00 to 4.6.2019, 15:30, the conference will take place at the same venue
“Association participation 4.0 – Strengthening environmental and nature conservation associations through digital networking”
to which we would also like to invite you.

Venue: House of Democracy and Human Rights, Robert-Havemann-Saal (1st courtyard, first floor, right), Greifswalder Straße 4, 10435 Berlin, bus stop: “Am Friedrichshain”)