The new directive on public access to environmental information (Directive 2003/4/EC) entered into force on 14 February 2005, thus becoming binding for all European Union Member States.

The directive replaces an earlier directive dating from 1990 (Directive 90/313/EEC) and strengthens the existing EU rules in this area, aligning them with the environmental information requirements of the 1998 Aarhus Convention. This Convention grants the public access to environmental information, provides for public participation in environmental decision-making and ensures access to justice when environmental law is infringed.

Examples of such information are data on emissions into the environment, their impact on public health and the results of environmental impact assessments.

The main features of the new directive can be summarised as follows:
 It grants a right of access to environmental information (as opposed to freedom of access currently) and to ensure that environmental information is made available and disseminated actively to the public;
 It provides a broader definition of environmental information as well as a more detailed definition of public authorities
 It establishes a deadline of one month (reduced from two currently) for public authorities to supply the information requested;
 It clarifies the circumstances under which authorities may refuse to provide information. Access to information shall be granted if the public interest served by the disclosure outweighs the interest served by a refusal;
 It identifies two types of review procedures for the public to challenge acts or omissions of public authorities relating to requests for environmental information.

 Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC