Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to exercise their right under Article 16 of the Aarhus Convention to contest the interpretation given by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee to Articles 3(1) and 8 of the Aarhus Convention in its findings of 3 October in Case ACCC/C/2017/150 concerning compliance by the United Kingdom.

The UK recognises the important role played by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee in making recommendations to promote compliance with the Aarhus Convention. However, we strongly disagree with the interpretation of Convention obligations which the Committee has recommended in the draft findings referred to in the question.   We look forward to working within the mechanisms of the Convention to address this issue.