Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and to the 1992 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents

Title (French)

Protocole sur la responsabilité civile et l'indemnisation en cas de dommages causés par les effets transfrontières d'accidents industriels sur les eaux transfrontières, se rapportant à la Convention de 1992 sur la protection et l'utilisation des cours d'eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux et à la Convention de 1992 sur les effets transfrontières des accidents industriels

Place of adoption

Kiev

Depository

UN United Nations

Language

English, French, Russian

Subject

Water

Keyword

Access-to-information Enforcement/compliance Access-to-justice Dispute settlement

Abstract

Objectives: To provide for a comprehensive regime for civil liability and for adequate and prompt compensation for damage caused by the transboundary effects of industrial accidents on transboundary waters. Summary of provisions: Article 2 defines the terms covered by the Protocol. Articles 4 and 9 provide for a strict liability of operators (not based on fault and financially limited), and articles 5 and 9 provide for a fault-based liability financially limitless. The operator is to take measures to prevent, minimise or mitigate possible loss or damage, or to arrange for environmental clean-up (art. 6). Persons liable under the Protocol have a right of recourse against any other person also liable under the Protocol (art. 7). Parties undertake to implement the Protocol by adopting all necessary legal measures, co-operating, providing for access to information and access to justice accordingly, and ensuring that their courts possess the necessary competence to entertain claims for compensation (art. 8 and 13). The Protocol also sets financial security with a view to guaranteeing that compensation is paid and time limits of liability (art. 10 and 11). Finally, Parties are to ensure mutual recognition and enforcement of judgements and arbitral awards relating to such liability as established under the Protocol (art. 18). Institutional mechanisms: A Meeting of the Parties is established (art. 21) to, inter alia, review the implementation and compliance with the Protocol, including relevant case law. The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe is to carry out secretariat functions as provided in article 22. Parties are to inform it of any measures taken to implement the Protocol (art. 8).

Full text

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Website

www.unece.org

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature

References - Treaties

Enabled by

Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents

Treaty | Multilateral | Helsinki | May 7, 1992

Keyword: Hazardous substances, Radioactive pollution, Transport/storage, Data collection/reporting, Technology transfer, Monitoring, Access-to-information, Marine pollution, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Oil pollution, EIA, Research, Transboundary effects, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Dispute settlement, Risk assessment/management, Liability/compensation, Nuclear energy, Public participation

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001143)

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

Treaty | Multilateral | Helsinki | May 7, 1992

Keyword: Precautionary principle

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001142)