Environmental Impact Assessment (Directive)

Public and private projects “likely to have significant effects on the environment” must undergo an environmental impact assessment (EIA) prior to receiving consent. For the first time in over 25 years the Commission wants to revise Directive 2011/92/EU fundamentally in order to eliminate deficiencies and to adapt it to the modified political, legal and technical framework.

cepPolicyBrief

The intended harmonisation of legislative provisions on the EIA may prevent competition between countries which is detrimental to the quality of the environment. The proposed deadlines for the screening process, involvement of the public and conclusion of the EIA result in greater legal certainty and efficiency. The EIA should however remain restricted to those environmental aspects which are actually affected by the proposed project.