Party States report procedure

The procedure

Each State that ratifies the Aarhus Convention must send a report every two to three years to the Convention’s International Secretariat regarding implementation of the Convention’s provisions in the State. This report is completed using a questionnaire which is identical for each State (see Decision I/8 on the presentation system for the reports). When the report is written, a national public participation procedure on the report must be organised.

Implementation in Belgium

Belgium’s first national report was adopted in May 2005 by the second Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, which was held in Kazakhstan. This national report consists of four separate reports prepared by the Federal State and the three Regions, each having been submitted for public consultation.  The same happened for the second, third,  fifth and sixth report in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2020.

In 2024, the Federal State and the three Regions have each written a report for the seventh time. These reports have been submitted for public consultation and sent to the Convention’s Secretariat in March 2025. The national synthesis contains among other things a summary of the results of the public consultation.

The 2024 reports:

• the final Belgian synthesis
• the four reports:
  • Federal State (FR) – (Dutch)
  • Brussels-Capital Region (FR) – (Dutch)
  • Flemish Region
  • Walloon Region (FR)

The comments of the public (2024):

• the comments of four citizens and five associations (including Canopea and Inter-Environnement Bruxelles) on the federal report (FR)
• the comments of four citizens and four associations (including Inter-Environnement Bruxelles) on the Brussels report (FR)
• the joint comments of Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Natuurpunt and Dryade on the Flemish report (NL)
• the comments of Canopea on the Walloon report (FR)

The 2020 reports:

• the final Belgian synthesis
• the four reports:
  • Federal State (FR) – (Dutch)
  • Brussels-Capital Region (FR) – (Dutch)
  • Flemish Region
  • Walloon Region (FR)

The comments of the public (2020):

• the position of Inter-Environnement Bruxelles (IEB) on the federal report (FR)
• the position of Inter-Environnement Wallonie (IEW) on the federal report (FR)
• the position of the Inter-Environnement Wallonie federation on the Walloon report (FR)
• the position of the Association de Comités de Quartier Ucclois (ACQU) on the Brussels report (FR)
• the additional position of the Association de Comités de Quartier Ucclois (ACQU) on the Brussels report (FR)
• the position of the Comité de Défense de l'Altitude Cent (CODA) on the Brussels report (FR)
• the position of the Comité du Quartier Fond'Roy on the Brussels report (FR)
• the joint comments of two citizens on the Brussels report (FR)

The first reports (2005):

• the final Belgian report
• the four reports:
  • Federal State (FR) - (Dutch)
  • Brussels-Capital Region (FR) - (Dutch)
  • Flemish Region (Dutch) -  (FR)
  • Walloon Region (FR)

The reports of 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 are available upon request via info@health.fgov.be or 02/524.97.97 (Service Center Health).