Public access to environmental information (repeal. Directive 90/313/EEC)

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mrs Eija-Riitta Anneli KORHOLA (EPP/ED, FIN) with 502 votes in favour, no votes against and two abstentions. The aim is to adapt existing legislation to reflect developments in information technologies such as the internet and to pave the way towards ratification of the UN/ECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. (Please refer to the previous text). More specifically, the 30 amendments that were adopted seek to broaden the defintion of public authorities to include natural persons performing administrative functions under national law. With regard to the dissemination of information, Parliament wants the Internet to be explicity mentioned and adds that account should also be taken of the future development of information and communication technologies, points which are not mentioned by the Commission. It wants Member States to create publicly accessible data bases where environmental documents would be held. Search aids should be provided to make it easy for the public to locate information. In addition, quality criteria are laid down regarding the information, to be provided, which must be up-to-date, comprehensible and scientifically sound.�