17.5.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 124/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 17 February 2005 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (2005/370/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300 (2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (Y), Whereas: 1 The UNJECE Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters (Aarhus Convention) aims at granting the public rights and imposes on Parties and public authorities obligations regarding access to information and public participation and access to justice regarding environmental matters. Improvement of the public’s access to information and a broader participation of the public in decision-making processes and access to justice are essential tools to ensure public awareness on environmental issues and to promote a better implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation. Thus, it contributes to strengthen and make more effective environmental protection policies. The Aarhus Convention is open to ratification, accep- tance, approval or accession by States and by regional economic integration organisations. Opinion delivered on 31.3.2004. Under the terms of the Aarhus Convention, a regional economic integration organisation must declare in its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the extent of its competence in respect of the matters governed by the Convention. The Community, in accordance with the Treaty, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, is competent, together with its Member States, for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the objectives listed in Article 174 of the Treaty. The Community and most of its Member States signed the Aarhus Convention in 1998 and since then have pursued their efforts in view of their approval of the Convention. In the meantime, relevant Community legislation is being made consistent with the Convention. The objective of the Aarhus Convention, as set forth in its Article 1 thereof, is consistent with the objectives of the Community’s environmental policy, listed in Arti- cle 174 of the Treaty, pursuant to which the Community, which shares competence with its Member States, has already adopted a comprehensive set of legislation which is evolving and contributes to the achievement of the objective of the Convention, not only by its own institutions, but also by public authorities in its Member States.