In period from March 2012 to March 2013, EELC carried out a project “Information and counselling campaign “Know how to participate””. The project seeked to achieve better decision-making in environmental matters – one where citizens and NGOs participate with relevant statements at an appropriate stage, enabling the environmental decision-makers to consider their interests. The aim was to reduce conflicts and litigation in environmental matters and to improve the quality of decisions.
In course of the project, EELC focused on two important directions:
- EELC lawyers provided free legal aid – from May 2012 we advised citizens and NGOs in the environmental decision-making processes. Legal aid included explaining possibilities of participation, assisting in the formulation of opinions and positions and communication with authorities;
- practical online/web-based guidelines with instructions on how to participate in spatial planning and environmental permits proceedings were drawn up; these were introduced to the public in autumn 2012.
Guidelines for participation (in Estonian)
The project was financed by Environmental Investment Centre; the budget was € 19 458.
