PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Community, the Protocol between the EC and the UN-ECE on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2006/61/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the United Nations-Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Protocol on pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTR). A PRTR is generally defined as an integrated database or register of pollutants which includes facility-specific data on releases to the environment and transfers of waste. It may also include releases from other relevant sources (diffuse sources).

The most important characteristics of a PRTR include: mandatory and periodical reporting by individual facilities, listing of pollutants, releases to air, water, land and transfers of waste, integrated database at national level, involvement of stakeholders, public accessibility.

In line with this definition, the Protocol contains the following key obligations: establishment and maintenance of (national) PRTR registers covering point sources and diffuse sources; coherent and structured, publicly accessible user-friendly computerized database; reporting requirements at facility level; multimedia pollutant-specific reporting of releases (to air, water and land); reporting of off-site transfers of waste; mandatory reporting on a yearly basis; quality assessment of registered data and voluntary reporting of diffuse sources.

The Protocol covers a total of sixty-four activities and eighty-six substances, subject to possible future amendments.

The UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Register is an important step towards the full implementation of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

Decision 2006/61
OJ L 032 04.02.2006, p. 0054-0079

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Hans BLOKLAND (IND/DEM, NL) and approved the conclusion of the Protocol.

T6-0285/2005
OJ C 157 06.07.2006, p. 0098-0382 E

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Hans BLOKLAND (IND/DEM, NL) and approved the conclusion of the Protocol.

T6-0285/2005

A6-0170/2005

A6-0170/2005

The committee adopted the report by Hans BLOKLAND (IND/DEM, NL) approving the proposal unamended under the consultation procedure.

PURPOSE : the Conclusion of a Protocol between the EC and the UN-ECE on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTNET : this Decision is being proposed in tandem with a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (refer to COD/2004/0231). The main purpose of the Register is to enhance public access to environmental information through the establishment of a coherent, integrated, European-wide "Pollutant Release and Transfer Register". It is also being proposed within the context of the Aarhus Convention. The Protocol itself requires each Party to establish a PRTR, which:

- Is publicly accessible through Internet, free of charge;

- Is searchable according to separate parameters (facility, pollutant, location, medium, etc.);

- Is user-friendly in its structure and provide links to other relevant registers;

- Presents standardised, timely data on a structured, computerised database;

- Covers releases and transfers of at least 86 pollutants covered by the Protocol, such as greenhouses gases, acid rain pollutants, ozone-depleting substances, heavy metals, and certain carcinogens, such as dioxins;

- Covers releases and transfers from certain types of major point sources (e.g. thermal power stations, mining and metallurgical industries, chemical plants, waste and waste-water treatment plants, paper and timber industries);

- Accommodates available data on releases from diffuse sources (e.g. transport and agriculture);

- Has limited confidentiality provisions;

- Allows for public participation in its development and modification.

In addition, a PRTR should be based on a reporting scheme which is mandatory; annual; multimedia (air, water, land); facility-specific; pollutant-specific for releases and pollutant-specific or waste-specific for transfers.

The proposal contains provisions granting a general mandate to the Commission to participate, on behalf of the Community, in the negotiation of amendments to the annexes, as well as in cases where the Community has to notify non-acceptance. Based on the multi-lateral environmental nature of the Protocol the European Commission calls on the Council to approve the Protocol through the adoption of the proposed Decision.

COM(2004)0635
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE : the Conclusion of a Protocol between the EC and the UN-ECE on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTNET : this Decision is being proposed in tandem with a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (refer to COD/2004/0231). The main purpose of the Register is to enhance public access to environmental information through the establishment of a coherent, integrated, European-wide "Pollutant Release and Transfer Register". It is also being proposed within the context of the Aarhus Convention. The Protocol itself requires each Party to establish a PRTR, which:

- Is publicly accessible through Internet, free of charge;

- Is searchable according to separate parameters (facility, pollutant, location, medium, etc.);

- Is user-friendly in its structure and provide links to other relevant registers;

- Presents standardised, timely data on a structured, computerised database;

- Covers releases and transfers of at least 86 pollutants covered by the Protocol, such as greenhouses gases, acid rain pollutants, ozone-depleting substances, heavy metals, and certain carcinogens, such as dioxins;

- Covers releases and transfers from certain types of major point sources (e.g. thermal power stations, mining and metallurgical industries, chemical plants, waste and waste-water treatment plants, paper and timber industries);

- Accommodates available data on releases from diffuse sources (e.g. transport and agriculture);

- Has limited confidentiality provisions;

- Allows for public participation in its development and modification.

In addition, a PRTR should be based on a reporting scheme which is mandatory; annual; multimedia (air, water, land); facility-specific; pollutant-specific for releases and pollutant-specific or waste-specific for transfers.

The proposal contains provisions granting a general mandate to the Commission to participate, on behalf of the Community, in the negotiation of amendments to the annexes, as well as in cases where the Community has to notify non-acceptance. Based on the multi-lateral environmental nature of the Protocol the European Commission calls on the Council to approve the Protocol through the adoption of the proposed Decision.

COM(2004)0635
EUR-Lex