Since the Committee insists on closing the file, and refusing to process my communication, you leave me no options, but to file an application with the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union for an Application for Annulment under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.
In the absence of clarification by yourself or the Committee, I shall interpret your statement “The reasons are clear” as confirmation of “The Committee is alleging that my requests for environmental information submitted to the media industry and bar association does not meet the committee’s interpretation of the convention’s definition of ‘environmental information.”
Correspondence to Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 4:14 PM
To: Lara
Cc: Aphrodite Smagadi
Subject: Communication to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee concerning compliance by Norway with provisions of the Convention in connection to access to information and access to justice (ref. ACCC/C/2013/82)
Importance: High
Dear Ms. Johnstone,
On behalf of Ms. Aphrodite Smagadi, Secretary to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, please find attached letter (PDF) oncerning compliance by Norway with provisions of the Convention in connection to access to information and access to justice (ref. ACCC/C/2013/82), for your information.
We would be grateful if you could please acknowledge the receipt of this email. We will only send the hard copy of the letter by post if we do not receive any acknowledgement form you within this week.
Kind regards,
Maricar Dela Cruz
Programme Assistant
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making
and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Environment Division
Palais des Nations
CH- 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel.:+41 22 917 2682
Fax: +41 22 917 0634
Email: [email protected] ;[email protected]; [email protected]
Website: www.unece.org/env/pp
To: "'aarhus compliance'", "'Prog Asst: Maricar de la Cruz'"
Cc: "'Aphrodite Smagadi'"
Date: 09/07/2013 17:42
Subject: RE: Communication to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee concerning compliance by Norway with provisions of the Convention in connection to access to information and access to justice (ref. ACCC/C/2013/82)
Ms. Maricar Dela Cruz
I have received Ms. Smagadi’s letter dated 09 July 2013.
Please confirm:
“The Committee considered the communication manifestly unreasonable because the communication had failed to provide for clear, obvious and evident reasons on how the requests of the communicant to the media industry and the bar association fell within the ambit of the Convention.”
The Committee is alleging that my requests for environmental information submitted to the media industry and bar association does not meet the committee’s interpretation of the convention’s definition of ‘environmental information’.
The Committee is also alleging that if or where anyone submits any request to any public body for environmental information, and such body pretends or sincerely does not agree with the communicant’s definition of ‘environmental information’, then the particular body can simply ignore the request, and refuse to answer it, and the Committee will endorse such behaviour from public bodies.
Please clarify if this is an accurate interpretation of the vague and ambiguous unclear statements by Ms. Magadi.
Many thanks,
Lara Johnstone
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 10:01 AM
To: Lara
Cc: 'aarhus compliance'; 'Prog Asst: Maricar de la Cruz'
Subject: RE: Communication to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee concerning compliance by Norway with provisions of the Convention in connection to access to information and access to justice (ref. ACCC/C/2013/82)
Dear Ms. Johnstone,
Thank you for confirming receipt.
The letter is based on the outcome of the Committee's discussion. The reasons are clear.
The file has now been closed.
With kindest regards,
Aphrodite Smagadi
Legal Officer - Secretary to the Compliance Committee
Aarhus Convention Secretariat
Environment Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
S.348, Palais des Nations
CH- 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 22 917 3294
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 11:42 AM
To: 'Aphrodite Smagadi'
Cc: 'aarhus compliance'; 'Prog Asst: Maricar de la Cruz'
Subject: RE: Communication to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee concerning compliance by Norway with provisions of the Convention in connection to access to information and access to justice (ref. ACCC/C/2013/82)
Ms. Smagadi,
Thanks for your response.
Since the Committee insists on closing the file, and refusing to process my communication, you leave me no options, but to file an application with the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union for an Application for Annulment under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.
In the absence of clarification by yourself or the Committee, I shall interpret your statement “The reasons are clear” as confirmation of “The Committee is alleging that my requests for environmental information submitted to the media industry and bar association does not meet the committee’s interpretation of the convention’s definition of ‘environmental information.”
Regards,
Lara Johnstone