Monika Thürmer* Zur Rolle der Umweltinformationsrichtlinie in Planfeststellungsverfahren The new EC Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information strengthens the legal position of those who might be affected by a plan approval order (Planfeststellungsbeschluss) – the outcome of a formal decision-making procedure in German administrative law – by providing in principle an unconditional and extended access to environmental infor