Geneva hosted the 7th meeting of the Working group on EIA and SEA (Espoo Convention)

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On 28-30 May 2018, Geneva (Switzerland) hosted the 7^th meeting of the Working group on environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA). The meeting reviewed the status of ratification of the Espoo Convention¹ by Parties and compliance with and implementation of its provisions.

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Among others, the Secretariat of the Convention released the report on the status of ratification of the Convention, its amendments and SEA Protocol². The Working group welcomed ratification of two amendments by Denmark and Canada. For the first amendment to enter into force, it is necessary that Ukraine, Armenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belgium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Greece ratify it and therefore these Parties were called on the promptest ratification.

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In the course of the meeting, the Implementation Committee of the Espoo Convention presented results of its work at 39th³, 40th ⁴ and 41st⁵ sessions and called on the Parties, including Ukraine, to speed up the reform of the national legislation by bringing it into compliance with the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA.
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Moreover, substantial part of the meeting was devoted to development of guidance regarding application of provisions of the Espoo Convention by Parties in the course of adoption decisions on lifetime extension of nuclear power plants⁶. In particular, the draft of such a decision is to be presented in 2019. The Guidance is expected to be adopted in 2020.

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Detailed information on decisions and reports adopted and reviewed at the seventh meeting of the Working group on EIA and SEA can be found at http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=47337.