Model legislation for local self-government units aimed at the implementation of the Aarhus Convention

With the aim of promoting the implementation of the Aarhus Convention principles, empowering the civil society and fostering the partnership between the civil sector and authorities, the OSCE Mission to Serbia supported the district Arhus Centre Kragujevac legal team in the development of model legal acts for local self-government units that enable sustainable public involvement in environmental decision-making processes at local level, more transparent access to environmental information and charge-free provision of legal assistance in environmental disputes. These model decisions aim at establishing “environmental councils” and introducing “green seats” in municipal assemblies, and “green line” and “green ombudsmen” within local administrations. The models were adopted by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities and the Municipal Assembly of the City of Kragujevac at the end of 2010.