The EU’s call for evidence on simplifying environmental legislation lacks clarity, transparency, and scope. Without specifying which laws are subject to amendment or assessing the legal, social, economic, and environmental impacts, the process risks undermining democratic participation rights under the Aarhus Convention.

We urge the Commission to re-open the consultation with clear information on proposed changes, their rationale, and their potential consequences—ensuring public participation is meaningful and that Europe’s climate and biodiversity ambitions are not weakened under the guise of “simplification.”

Read the Centre for Environmental Justice’s full response to the EU’s call for evidence below: