Kaja PetersonProgramme Director
Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre
Experiences of implementation of Espoo Convention in neighbouring countries of the Russian Federation
Espoo Convention is largely about communicating with neighbours, but not only……….
It is also about……… Availability of data and background information Access to and exchange of information Frameworks to communicate with the public and
stakeholders Legislative and administrative frameworks to support
the environmental assessment process and associated with this communication
Sharing of experiences and knowledge Extending democracy and strenghtening civil society Working towards sustainable development Building trust across borders
EU and Espoo Convention
EU as collective member (party) since 1997
But…..
EU is comprising 27 countries with a variety ofadministrative frameworks and cultural backgrounds
The Russian Federation
Signatory to the Espoo Convention, not a Party
22 neighbouring countries and EU
85 federal subjects
•47 oblasts (provinces)•21 republics (states)•eight krais (territories)•six okrugs (autonomous districts)•two federal cities (Moscow and St Petersburg)•the Jewish Autonomous Oblast
Transboundary EIA issue being discussed
Caspian Sea ConventionBaltic Sea Convention
A way forward
Political decision on the launch of the accession procedure to the Espoo Convention
Legal framework for EIA and transboundary EIA put in place
Administrative framework to cope with the communication load
Both legal and administrative frameworks put in place to ensure public involvement in the process
Continuous capacity building process at all levels of the administration and the civil society