OSCE-organized study tour for Belarusian representatives on implementation of Aarhus Convention concludes in Rome

ROME, 21 December 2016 – Thirteen representatives of different Belarusian state institutions, local administrations and Aarhus Centres today completed a three-day study tour to Rome on implementing the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. The visit was co-organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). 

The study tour included presentation and discussion sessions on access to environmental information and public participation in environmental decision-making followed by a visit to the Appia Antica Regional Park to learn about participatory management practices.

Esra Buttanri, OCEEA Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser, said that the study tour enabled an exchange of experiences and best practices between the Belarusian participants and their Italian counterparts.

“The OSCE has been supporting its participating States in the implementation of the Aarhus Convention through a number of capacity building and awareness-raising activities targeting a wide-spectrum of stakeholders including central and local government agencies, civil society organizations, media and academia,” said Buttanri.

Francesco La Camera, Director General of the Italian Environment, Land and Sea Ministry said that Italy strongly supports the Aarhus Convention, being one of its main contributors. “It is a great pleasure for us to host the Belarusian delegation, and we are firmly convinced that this exchange of experiences will enrich our knowledge. It will also help us take a big step towards the process of improving access to information and public participation on environmental matters.”

Tatyana Evdaseva of the Belarus Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry said: “By giving us the opportunity to learn about success stories, and institutional and legal frameworks of our Italian counterparts, this visit will further strengthen the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Belarus. It certainly contributes to enhancing co-operation between the two countries.”

The study tour was organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and hosted by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea.

The event was financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) as part of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) - a partnership comprising the OSCE, the UN Development Programme, the UN Environment Programme, UNECE, and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).