The Council of Europe’s Assembly expressed its concern about the deterioration in the environment and its effects on citizens’ health.
During its meeting on 27 June 2003, the Assembly called for an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Council of Europe aims at strengthening environmental protection by granting individuals the right to lodge complaints in this respect.
Debating a report by member of the Assembly Cristina Agudo (Spain, SOC), the parliamentarians said that member states should themselves offer their citizens guaranteed right of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to the courts in environmental matters, pending such a protocol in which these rights would be enshrined.
