Pravo na pristup pravosuđu u pitanjima okoliša

Jedan od strateških ciljeva Republike Hrvatske u narednom periodu jeste pristupanje Europskoj uniji. Radi ostvarenja navedenog cilja RH je u listopadu 2001.g. potpisala Sporazum o stabilizaciji i pridruživanju te potpisivanjem istoga preuzela obvezu razvijanja suradnje sa državama članicama Europske unije, u borbi protiv uništavanja okoliša radi promicanja održivosti okoliša (čl.103 Sporazuma). Prihvaćanjem Sporazuma započeo je postupak prilagodbe hrvatskog zakonodavstva pravnoj stečevini Europske Unije a time i implementacije mnogih akata Europske unije u njezino zakonodavstvo. Na području zaštite okoliša mjerodavna tijela Europske unije donijela su veći broj uredbi, direktiva i odluka kojima je odredila ciljeve koje treba postići u daljnjoj zaštiti istoga, a koje RH u svome daljnjem približavanju Europskoj uniji mora implementirati u svoje zakonodavstvo. Jedno od najvažnijih pitanja zaštite okoliša svakako je pravo na pristup pravosuđu u pitanjima okoliša svih zainteresiranih osoba. U ovome radu autori će obraditi pravo na pristup pravosuđu u pitanjima zaštite okoliša, njegova obilježja, sličnosti i različitosti normiranja sa aspekta Konvencije o pristupu informacijama, sudjelovanju javnosti u odlučivanju i pristupu pravosuđu u pitanjima okoliša, akata Europske Unije i hrvatskog pravnog poretka.
One of the strategic goals of the Republic of Croatia for the following period is its access to the European Union. In order to fulfill it, the Republic of Croatia has in October 2001 signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement and thus overtaken the obligation to strengthen co-operation with European Union member states in struggle against environmental devastation and in promotion of environmental sustainability (Article 103 of Agreement). With the acceptance of the Agreement the process began of the Croatian legislation adjustment to the European Union legal acquirements, and thus of the implementation of numerous European Union Acts into its own legislation. In the area of environmental protection, a large number of regulations, directives, and decisions resolving the objectives regarding further protection were carried out by the competent bodies of the European Union, which the Republic of Croatia must implement in its own legislation during its process of accessing EU. Sure enough, one of the most important questions of environmental protection is the right to approach the legislation on environmental issues by all stakeholders. This paper brings the authors' elaboration on the right to access to justice in matters of environmental protection, its standardizing characteristics, similarities, and differences from the aspect of the Convention on Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, European Union Acts, and Croatian legislation.