Editorial note

The European Environment Agency has, inter alia, the task to ensure that the public is properly informed about the state of the environment (Article 1(2) Regulation EEC 1210/1990). This Decision provides for the public to have the widest possible access to Agency documents and specifies the conditions for such access (paragraph I). Applicants are to send a request in writing to the Executive Director of the Agency. They do not have to prove an interest. Applications must be sufficiently precise to allow the identification of the document requested (paragraph II). In some circumstances, charges may be made to access Agency documents, but they are not to exceed what is reasonable (paragraph III). Applications are to be dealt with as quickly as possible (paragraph IV). Access to an Agency document can be denied in specific circumstances (paragraph V).

Source: OJ C 282 18.09.1997 p. 5

Decision of 21 March 1997 on public access to European Environment Agency documents

Explanatory memorandum

1. Pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network it is one of the tasks of the Agency ‘to ensure that the public is properly informed about the state of the environment’ (Article 1(2)). In conformity with this general statement, the Agency is in charge of ensuring ‘the broad dissemination of reliable environmental information’ (Article 2, point (vi)).

2. Considering that free access to available information on the environment held by public authorities of Member States will improve environmental protection, access to documents held by Member States has been ensured by Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environment.