Now, the expansion of the REC's mandate into the countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania has made possible this publication of Public Participation Country Reports for the Baltics, together comprising a supplement to the English-language master volume. As was the case for the other countries covered in the prior volume, this English-language supplement will be followed by practical public participation manuals in the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian languages.
Readers interested in using the information contained in these country reports to participate in environmental policymaking and decisionmaking in their own countries should consult the previously mentioned Manual, Chapter 2, "How to Get Started," and other publications, including "Dutch Environmental Organizations Go to Court," published by Milieukontakt Oosteuropa, or contact local REC or CEELI office for assistance. Addresses are provided at the back of this volume.
With a few changes, the reports contained in this volume follow the general format of the country reports found in the Manual. We have diverged from the prior format where we felt that greater detail was needed, for example in the section on administrative law and practice. Additionally, to respond to readers¹ comments on the prior publications, some further background and analysis are provided in the introduction to each country report. These and other improvements will be included in a projected future second edition of the Manual and the national language versions covering all thirteen countries.
In gathering the information contained herein we have relied primarily on direct analysis of legislation and other documents. As for jurisprudence - judicial decisions applying and interpreting the laws - we have included every significant example we could identify. As jurisprudence in this field is sure to evolve, reports of judicial decisions should be consulted frequently. In describing events and providing overview, we have relied as much as possible on ascertainable facts. Yet, as the reader knows, anecdotal information is also important for gaining a more accurate impression of the public participation situation in the subject countries, and so is included for the reader to take for what it is worth. Any information based on personal interviews is clearly indicated as such. No opinion except that of the author is contained herein. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the REC or CEELI.
In addition to those individuals acknowledged in the Manual, the American Bar Association, Central and East European Law Initiative would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals, without whom the production of this Supplement would have been impossible:
Magdolna Tóth Nagy, László Karas, Stanislaw Sitnicki, Ethan Klingsberg, Miklós Persányi, Mark Ellis, John Knechtle, Donna Stinson, Harrison Dickey, Michael Gallagher, Juri Taalman, Heikki Leesment, John Zerr, Mark Segal, John Corrigan, Robert Cornell, Algis Paul Rimas, Angela Taylor, Ruth Lupash, Sara Hagigh, Liga Skujina, Mantas Zurba, Tomasz Bitinaitis.
We would like to extend our thanks to the following individuals who gave comments or expert assistance in the production of the Country Reports: Eva Kraav, Valdur Lahtvee, Peep Mardiste, Juri Lass, Maret Merisaar, Ahto Oja, Tonu Oja, Kaja Peterson, Ann Randmer, Olavi Tammamäe, Mihkel Vaarik, Hannes Veinla, Matti Viisimaa, Una Blumberga, Ilma Cepane, Arunas Kundrotas, Eriks Leitis, Gita Rutina, Janis Strautmanis, Girts Strazdins, Arvids Ulme, Valts Vilnitis, Ruta Baskyte, Irena Buciunaite, Arvydas Dragunas, Ausra Liubeckaite, Leonardas Rinkevicius, Ruta Vadumaite, Linas Vainius, Bruce J. Stedman.
Many others too numerous to mention contributed as well. We apologize for any omissions from the list.
The CEELI Public Participation Research Project has received programmatic and in-kind support from the American Bar Association, the Institute for Constitutional and Legislative Policy, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of Hungary, and the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe.
2. The project covered Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The national-language manuals are available from the local REC offices for the respective countries.