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• Civil Review: Book Review of “Civil Society in Europe - Minimum Norms and Optimum Conditions of its Regulation”

  164-176

  Izabella Deák

  Views:

  290

  Civil society is under pressure in many countries. Governments appear to be less and less tolerant of the opinion of civil society advocates, rights defenders and watchdog organizations. This book is given relevance by Lex NGO which restricts the operation and implementation of the activities of Hungarian non-governmental organizations. The volume of studies defines the minimum standards and optimal conditions that are essential for key players in civil society to be able to achieve the goals set by organizations and to contribute to the formation of democratic public opinion. In my analysis I placed more emphasis on those parts of the volume that may be important in the amendment of Lex NGO and similar legislation.

• The Types of Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations: The GONGO Phenomenon

  141-158

  Izabella Deák

  Views:

  251

  My study describes the conceptual dividing lines and differences between one of the most important actors in civil society, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs). Furthermore, it classifies the different types of GONGOs (professional, diffuse, “democratizing”, “lobby”). Following the classification, it becomes clear that to various degrees, the different types of GONGOs are excellent tools in the hands of governments to reshape the structure of the civil society which articulates critical views of the government.

• The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in the Enforcement of Environmental Liability

  113-127

  Attila Pánovics

  Views:

  289

  Public participation is an essential part of the mechanism of dealing with environmental problems. Both the Aarhus Convention and Union law stipulate that citizens and environmental NGOs should be guaranteed access to justice that includes providing legal standing for environmental NGOs individuals and directly affected by a breach of environmental law. In accordance with the Environmental Liability Directive, persons adversely affected by environmental damage are entitled to ask the competent authorities to take action. However, there are major chellenges to the implementation of environmental legislation, faced by environmental NGOs in obtaining standing to bring legal challenges on environmental issues. 

• Changes of substantive and procedural law concerning the register of non-governmental organizations

  148-163

  Szilárd Pálfay

  Views:

  146

  Provisions concerning the societies and foundations raise difficulties for judges, lawyers and judicial staff proceeding in the interest of registration of non-governmental organizations for a long time. The study examines the registration of non- governmental organizations with a view to provisions of substantive and procedural law and attempts to demonstrate problems being the cause of legal uncertainty. Finally the author puts forward a proposal for correction of regulation concerning the non-governmental organizations and suggests introducing methods in the interest of predictable application of law.

• Expanding Zoo? Judgments of the EU Court of Justice on Participation of Slovakian NGOs in Environmental Administrative Proceedings

  118-131

  László Szegedi

  Views:

  167

  The Aarhus Convention guarantees access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. The Convention as a so-called mixed-agreement has been ratified by the EU as well as by its Member States. The Convention-related case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) especially relating to Slovakia (see, C-240/09 – Slovak bears, C-243/15 – Slovak deers) shows that the Court has broadened the locus standi of NGOs before national courts using them in order to facilitate the enforcement of EU law. The activism followed by the Court in these judgements could be considered as environmental-specific expression of the objective of broader law enforcement before national courts. However it depends on national courts whether this kind of CJEU judgments could acquire cross-border relevance by their application of national judges. "A mű a KÖFOP-2.1.2-VEKOP-15-2016-00001 azonosítószámú, _ „A jó kormányzást megalapozó közszolgálat-fejlesztés”_ elnevezésű kiemelt projekt keretében működtetett Ludovika Kutatócsoport keretében, a Nemzeti Közszolgálati Egyetem felkérésére készült."