{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2016-768/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2016-768/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2016/768",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (EU) 2016/768 of 21 April 2016 on the acceptance of the Amendments to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2016-768",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (EU) 2016/768\nof 21 April 2016\non the acceptance of the Amendments to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a), thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nHaving regard to the consent of the European Parliament,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nThe Union is a party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (‘the Convention’), following its approval in 1981.\n(2)\nThe Union is a party to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals (‘the Protocol’), following its approval on 4 April 2001.\n(3)\nThe parties to the Protocol opened negotiations in 2009, the scope of which was extended in 2010, with a view to further improving the protection of human health and the environment, including through the updating of emission limit values that addressed emissions of air pollutants at source.\n(4)\nIn 2012, the parties present at the 31st session of the Executive Body of the Convention adopted by consensus Decisions 2012/5 and 2012/6 amending the Protocol.\n(5)\nThe amendments set out in Decision 2012/6 entered into force and became effective on the basis of the expedited procedure provided for in Article 13(4) of the Protocol.\n(6)\nThe amendments set out in Decision 2012/5 require acceptance by the parties to the Protocol in accordance with Article 13(3) of the Protocol.\n(7)\nThe Union has already adopted instruments on matters covered by the amendments to the Protocol, including Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.\n(8)\nThe amendments to the Protocol set out in Decision 2012/5 should therefore be accepted on behalf of the Union,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 171, 27.6.1981, p. 11."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 134, 17.5.2001, p. 40."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2016/768/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:58.804969+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}