Pro Bono to strengthen Public Participation through EU Environmental Law
We were proud to connect the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) with the Belgian law firm Collectif Deprevernet, enabling targeted EU environmental law pro bono support to advance democratic participation in Europe’s renewable energy transition.
As the European Union accelerates renewable energy deployment, public participation rights have never been more important. New rules promise faster permitting, but they also reshape how communities can engage. Ensuring these rights are understood, respected and effectively exercised is therefore a critical public interest issue.
The Cause: Public Participation in the Renewable Energy Transition
Europe’s climate objectives require a rapid scale-up of renewable energy infrastructure. To achieve this, the EU revised the Renewable Energy Directive in 2023, introducing the concept of Renewable Acceleration Areas and streamlined permitting procedures.
However, speed comes with risk. If communities are excluded from decision-making, projects may face opposition, legal challenges and reduced legitimacy. EU environmental law therefore embeds public participation safeguards, notably through the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, and the Aarhus Convention.
Understanding these safeguards is not straightforward. The legal framework is complex, technical, and often inaccessible to non-lawyers. This gap between law on the books and law in practice is precisely where EU environmental law pro bono support can have transformative impact.
The European Environmental Bureau
The EEB is the largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe. It brings together more than 180 member organisations from over 40 countries.
Their mission is clear: to advance ambitious environmental laws and policies while empowering civil society to hold decision-makers accountable. In the context of climate and energy, EEB focuses not only on decarbonisation, but also on democratic governance, transparency and public trust.
By supporting communities and civil society groups, EEB seeks to ensure that climate action is both effective and legitimate. Public participation is therefore not a procedural formality, but a cornerstone of the change EEB wants to see across Europe.
The Case: Making EU Environmental Law Accessible
Following the revision of RED III, EEB drafted a practical guidance document on public participation rights in renewable energy projects. The document focuses on early-stage planning, particularly within Renewable Acceleration Areas.
The guidance explains when and how people can be consulted, what information authorities must provide, and what remedies exist if participation rights are denied. It is written in accessible language and includes custom visual elements to support non-expert readers.
Before publishing and promoting the guidance widely, EEB wanted to ensure its legal accuracy and clarity. They therefore sought pro bono support to:
- confirm correct interpretation of RED III, the EIA Directive, and the Aarhus Convention,
- improve language precision and consistency,
- assess whether visual elements accurately reflected legal content,
- and identify missing references or potential misinterpretations
Given tight timelines and limited internal capacity, expert legal review was essential.
The Provider: Collectif Deprevernet
Collectif Deprevernet is a Brussels-based law firm known for its strong expertise in public law, EU law and environmental and regulatory matters. The firm is building itself a solid reputation for combining legal excellence with a clear commitment to public interest work.
The pro bono collaboration was led by Advocate Megi Bakiasi together with a team of lawyers experienced in EU environmental frameworks. Their ability to translate complex legal provisions into practical guidance made them an ideal match for EEB’s needs.
Pro bono engagement is embedded in Collectif Deprevernet’s professional culture. This case reflects their broader commitment to supporting civil society actors working on systemic environmental challenges.
Case Progress: From Draft to Legally Robust Guidance
The collaboration was set up quickly and efficiently starting with an in-person meeting to clarify expectations and timelines. The legal team at Collectif Deprevernet then proceeded to review the near-final draft asynchronously, providing detailed written comments.
Their review focused on specific provisions of RED III Articles 15 and 16, as well as the interaction with the EIA Directive and the Aarhus Convention. They verified legal interpretations, clarified nuanced obligations for authorities, and suggested refinements to ensure consistency throughout the document.
Importantly, the lawyers also assessed the custom visual elements accompanying the text. Where needed, they suggested adjustments to avoid oversimplification or ambiguity, ensuring that visuals reinforced rather than distorted legal meaning.
A feedback and reflection meeting was later held again at Collectif Deprevernet’s offices. This allowed both teams to discuss the guidance, exchange perspectives, and explore future areas of cooperation.
The Result: Empowering Communities Across Europe
Thanks to this EU environmental law pro bono support, EEB finalised a legally robust and accessible guidance document. The organisation is now able to publish and promote the resource confidently across its extensive network.
The guidance equips local communities and civil society groups with concrete legal tools. It helps them engage early in planning processes, request information and assert their rights where participation is restricted.
In practice, this strengthens democratic legitimacy around renewable energy projects. It also reduces the risk of conflict by fostering transparency and informed dialogue.
EEB Policy Officer Maya Perera highlighted that the collaboration was positive for both sides and that Collectif Deprevernet plans to continue its pro bono programme into 2026, concluding: “Thanks truly again for your effort and coordination in connecting us. I’m really pleased that this collaboration was so successful and smooth.”
Beyond One Case: Building Long-Term Pro Bono Partnerships
The collaboration did not end with a single deliverable. During follow-up discussions, EEB and Collectif Deprevernet explored potential future cooperation, including strategic litigation related to agricultural policy.
This reflects Pro Publico’s broader role as a matchmaker: by aligning expertise with real civil society needs, we help build trusted, long-term pro bono relationships that extend beyond individual cases.
Are you a civil society organisation in need of legal expertise? Or a law firm looking to put your skills at the service of the public interest? 👉 reach out now, together, we can strengthen access to justice and democratic participation across Europe.
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Thanks to @MayaPerera, @EuropeanEnvironmentalBureau, @MegiBakiasi, @CollectifDeprevernet, @FrancescoZatelli, @ProPublico
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