TITLE IV INTERNAL REVIEW AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Any non-governmental organisation which meets the criteria set out in Article 11 is entitled to make a request for internal review to the Community institution or body that has adopted an administrative act under environmental law or, in case of an alleged administrative omission, should have adopted such an act. Such a request must be made in writing and within a time limit not exceeding six weeks after the administrative act was adopted, notified or published, whichever is the latest, or, in the case of an alleged omission, six weeks after the date when the administrative act was required. The request shall state the grounds for the review. The Community institution or body referred to in paragraph 1 shall consider any such request, unless it is clearly unsubstantiated. The Community institution or body shall state its reasons in a written reply as soon as possible, but no later than 12 weeks after receipt of the request. Where the Community institution or body is unable, despite exercising due diligence, to act in accordance with paragraph 2, it shall inform the non-governmental organisation which made the request as soon as possible and at the latest within the period mentioned in that paragraph, of the reasons for its failure to act and when it intends to do so. In any event, the Community institution or body shall act within 18 weeks from receipt of the request. A non-governmental organisation shall be entitled to make a request for internal review in accordance with Article 10, provided that: it is an independent non-profit-making legal person in accordance with a Member State's national law or practice; it has the primary stated objective of promoting environmental protection in the context of environmental law; it has existed for more than two years and is actively pursuing the objective referred to under (b); the subject matter in respect of which the request for internal review is made is covered by its objective and activities. The Commission shall adopt the provisions which are necessary to ensure transparent and consistent application of the criteria mentioned in paragraph 1. The non-governmental organisation which made the request for internal review pursuant to Article 10 may institute proceedings before the Court of Justice in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty. Where the Community institution or body fails to act in accordance with Article 10(2) or (3) the non-governmental organisation may institute proceedings before the Court of Justice in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty.

← art_9__para_5__text_1 · All articles · Article 10 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-12 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.