A five-day event in Budva, Montenegro, will provide a platform for some 400 representatives of Governments, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss achievements and challenges in promoting transparency, public participation in decision-making and access to justice regarding a wide range of topics that relate to the environment. In particular, participants will look at how to promote environmental democracy throughout the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, at the invitation of the Government of Montenegro, the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the third session of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (Protocol on PRTRs) will be held in Budva, Montenegro, during the week of 11-15 September 2017.

On 14 September, a joint High-level Segment of the two bodies is expected to lead to the adoption of a declaration, which will mark another important step towards participatory decision-making in environmental matters and protection of the rights of environmental activists and whistle-blowers. At the meeting, Parties are also expected to agree on a number of decisions to guide their implementation in the future and discuss global promotion of the two legal instruments.

Over the past 20 years, the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs have become models for the application of Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and have been a source of inspiration for the promotion of democratic principles in numerous forums, including climate change processes, trade negotiations and the policies of international financial institutions. The significance of the Budva events and the benefits brought about by the two treaties are best described by Pavle Radulović, Minister for Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro, who notes that “The principles of the Aarhus Convention have become part of everyday life and have laid the foundations for achieving high environmental and economic standards and safeguarding public interest. The organization of this event will contribute to an even greater degree of commitment of Montenegro to objectives of sustainable development and the Aarhus Convention and will strengthen cooperation at national and international level. As an ecological state and a country of exceptional natural beauty, Montenegro attaches particular importance to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and is honoured to host this important event”.

For more information on organisation of the events and documents, please visit UNECE website: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhusmop6&prtrmopp3/main.html#/

For practical and logistical arrangements, please visit the host country website: www.aarhusmontenegro.me