On 2 July 2026, the EU Council published an information note detailing statements delivered by the EU and its Member States at the 14th Meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment (WG 14 on EIA and SEA), held in Geneva from 16 to 18 June 2026. The EU supported the proposed agenda and provisional agendas for the upcoming 10th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Espoo Convention and the 6th MOP to its Protocol, scheduled for 1–4 December 2026 in Geneva. It also backed nominations for the Minister for Environment of Armenia as chair of the high-level segment and Mr. George Kremlis as chair of the general segment.
The EU called on the United Kingdom and Armenia to complete ratification of the First Amendment to the Convention before the December MOP sessions. It supported draft decision X/2–VI/2 on the 2027–2029 workplan, subject to incorporation of EU comments, and reiterated full support for Poland's “East Shield” project, stressing it falls under Article 2(8) of the Convention. The EU supported insertion of a modified subparagraph (g) in paragraph 74 of the Draft eighth review, amending Belarus's proposed wording. On artificial intelligence, the EU backed draft decisions X/3–VI/3 but expressed reservations about establishing a formal Task Force at this stage. It also supported draft joint decision X/4–VI/4 on Mediterranean cooperation and inclusion of a global workshop in the 2027–2029 workplan, subject to resource availability.
The statements reaffirm the EU's commitment to the Espoo Convention and its Protocol, emphasizing realistic, resource-aligned workplans. The EU's reservations on the AI task force reflect a cautious approach to institutional expansion, balancing innovation with budgetary constraints. The call for ratification by the UK and Armenia underscores the EU's push for universal adherence to the Convention's amendments. The support for Poland's East Shield project highlights the EU's stance on national security exemptions under the Convention. The December MOPs will be the next key milestone for adopting these decisions.