CHAPTER XXVII

ENVIRONMENT4bProtocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary ContextKiev, 21 May 2003Entry into force11 July 2010, in accordance with article 24(1).Registration11 July 2010, No. 34028StatusSignatories38Parties251TextDoc. ECE/MP.EIA/2003/2.The above Protocol was adopted on 21 May 2003 by the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Convention of 25 February 1991 on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context held in Kiev, from 21 to 23 May 2003. The Protocol was opened for signature from 21 to 23 May 2003 in Kiev, and will remain open for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 31 December 2003 by States members of the Economic Commission for Europe as well as States having consultative status with the Economic Commission for Europe, pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 11 of Economic and Social Council resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States members of the Economic Commission for Europe to which their member States have transferred competence over matters governed by the Protocol, including the competence to enter into treaties in respect of these matters.

ParticipantSignature, Succession to signature(d)Approval(AA), Acceptance(A), Accession(a), Succession(d), RatificationAlbania21 May 2003 2 Dec 2005 Armenia21 May 2003 24 Jan 2011 Austria21 May 2003 23 Mar 2010 Belgium21 May 2003 Bosnia and Herzegovina21 May 2003 Bulgaria21 May 2003 25 Jan 2007 Croatia23 May 2003 6 Oct 2009 Cyprus21 May 2003 Czech Republic21 May 2003 19 Jul 2005 Denmark21 May 2003 4 Jun 2012 AAEstonia21 May 2003 12 Apr 2010 European Union21 May 2003 12 Nov 2008 AAFinland21 May 2003 18 Apr 2005 AFrance21 May 2003 Georgia21 May 2003 Germany21 May 2003 22 Feb 2007 Greece21 May 2003 Hungary21 May 2003 26 Nov 2010 AAIreland21 May 2003 Italy21 May 2003 Latvia21 May 2003 Lithuania21 May 2003 22 Mar 2011 Luxembourg21 May 2003 2 Jul 2008 Montenegro<superscript>2</superscript>23 Oct 2006 d 2 Nov 2009 Netherlands<superscript>3</superscript>21 May 2003 8 Dec 2009 ANorway21 May 2003 11 Oct 2007 AAPoland21 May 2003 21 Jun 2011 Portugal21 May 2003 4 Sep 2012 AARepublic of Moldova21 May 2003 Romania21 May 2003 8 Mar 2010 Serbia21 May 2003 8 Jul 2010 Slovakia19 Dec 2003 29 May 2008 Slovenia22 May 2003 23 Apr 2010 Spain21 May 2003 24 Sep 2009 Sweden21 May 2003 30 Mar 2006 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia21 May 2003 Ukraine21 May 2003 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland21 May 2003 BelgiumUpon signature:Declaration:This signature engages also the Waloon region, the Flemish region, and the Brussels-Capital region.DenmarkUpon signature:Declaration:“Both the Faroe Islands and Greeland are self-governing under Home Rule Acts, which implies <i>inter alia </i> that environmental affairs in general and the areas covered by the Protocol are governed by the right of self-determination.Signing by Denmark of the Protocol, therefore does not necessarily mean that Danish ratification will in due course include the Faroe Islands and Greenland.”Territorial ExclusionUntil further notice, the Convention shall not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.European UnionDeclaration:"In accordance with Article 23(5), of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the 1991 UN/ECE Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context,The European Community declares that, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, it is competent to enter into international agreements, and to implement the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:-- preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment,-- protecting human health,-- prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources,-- promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.Moreover the European Community declares that it has already adopted legal instruments, including Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, binding on its Member States, covering matters governed by this Protocol, and will submit and update, as appropriate, a list of thoselegal instruments to the Depositary in accordance with Article 23(5) of the Protocol.The European Community is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Protocol which are covered by Community law.The exercise of Community competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development."1For the purpose of entry into force of the [Convention/Protocol] , any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of that Organization.2See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.3For the Kingdom in Europe.