Legal challenge to EU renewable energy policy

The European Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW) regroup 596 associations of actual and potential victims of windfarms from 24 countries. They have just initiated proceedings at the General Court in Luxemburg, which is the part of the EU Court of Justice from whence people can seek redress against EU institutions under certain conditions. In this occurrence, EPAW represents to the Court that the extension of the renewable energy programme of the European Commission (“Commission”) violates the Aarhus Convention on a number of counts, and should be annulled.

The Aarhus Convention ("Convention") has been approved by the Council Decision 2005/370/EC of 17 February 2005: it is therefore enforceable in the EU. It guarantees access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (1). Given the considerable effect on the environment of the construction of thousands of windfarms across Europe, the Convention applies to any plan or programme or extension thereof that paves the way for such construction.   Weiter lesen...