Parliament members from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine visited the Dutch House of Representatives on March 5 as part of their membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), specifically the Network for a Healthy Environment and the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development. The delegation was received by the Houses Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Water Management to discuss the role of the Dutch parliament in protecting the right to a healthy environment.
Healthy Living Environment as a Legal Obligation
Aurora Floridia, chair of the PACE network and Italian parliament member, presented the resolution adopted by PACE in 2024 to the Houses spokespersons about mainstreaming the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment through the Reykjavik process. The resolution considers a healthy environment not as a political wish but as a legal obligation. The political recognition of this right was first established for the Council of Europe during the fourth summit in Reykjavik of the Councils leaders, the Reykjavik process.
Other human rights organizations worldwide have already included this right in their human rights framework. Also, 42 of the 46 members of the Council of Europe have recognized the right in a non-binding form through the UN resolution on the same topic. Floridia explained that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe would further discuss this subject in May 2025.
Senator Saskia Kluit (GroenLinks-PvdA) added that if this right is implemented, companies could benefit as there would be a level playing field with harmonized regulations. Kluit: The value for citizens is that they can invoke the right to a clean environment at the European Court of Human Rights. Currently, citizens can also file environmental claims there, but only if they have been personally affected. The right to a clean environment allows cases to be presented even when individuals have not yet fallen ill. The delegation then answered questions from the House members.
After the public session, the delegation further discussed with several House members, international and national jurists, and representatives of civil society organizations. The delegation also met with House Vice-Chairman Tom van der Lee.