Access to Environmental Justice in EU for Non-governmental Actors

Nowadays, environmental protection is a major preoccupation in the international community. One of the essential trends of international environmental law is the presence of non-governmental actors in the formation, application, and control of environmental regulations. Recognition of the legal personality as a player in the international sphere is a general evolution in the protection of the environment. The present article tries to explain the role of non-governmental actors in environmental questions in the light of international conventions such as the Aarhus Convention as well as judicial decisions of the International Court of Justice. The results imply that the decision makers in the European Union should modify some regulations either in regional or national level to fulfill the ambitious goals of the founders of this unique international organization.