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The document serves as a guide for citizens, NGOs, and legal professionals to navigate the complex system of environmental litigation in Germany. It details the three pillars of the Aarhus Convention—access to information, public participation, and access to justice—and explains how these are implemented through EU directives and German national law. The toolkit outlines specific procedures for challenging government inaction or illegal acts, the standing of recognized environmental associations, and the roles of international bodies like the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC), and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The document outlines the legal framework and practical procedures for requesting information from EU institutions, specifically contrasting general access under Regulation 1049/2001 with the broader rights for environmental information under the Aarhus Convention and Regulation 1367/2006. It details the application process, the timelines for institutional responses, the mechanisms for challenging refusals—including the European Ombudsman and the General Court—and the specific legal exceptions institutions may invoke to withhold information.

The document outlines the procedures for requesting information from EU institutions under Regulation 1049/2001 and the Aarhus Convention. It explains the broader definition of 'environmental information' under EU law, the specific obligations of institutions to provide access, and the various exceptions they may invoke to refuse requests. It further guides users through the process of making initial and confirmatory applications, and the legal avenues available for challenging denials, including the European Ombudsman and the General Court.