Overview
EU rules ensure that Member States should assess the likely significant environmental effect of certain large infrastructure projects, public plans and programmes.
Environmental assessments can be undertaken for individual projects, such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory (under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive) or for public plans or programmes (under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive).
Both Directives ensure that an environmental assessment takes place before plans, programmes and projects are approved or authorised. Public participation in decision-making is a key aspect of both Directives.
Specific policies
Evaluating the effects of public and private projects on the environment
Evaluating the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment.
EIA/SEA Expert Group
The implementation of the EIA and SEA Directives is supported by a group of national government experts working together with the Commission.
The Commission organises regular meetings of these national experts to exchange information on implementation and provide regular updates on developments at EU and national levels, including measures to simplify environmental assessments.
More information on the EIA/SEA Expert Group is available here. For previous EIA/SEA Expert Group meeting documents, see here.
For general information on Commission Expert Groups, go to the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities.
International commitments
Espoo Convention and SEA Protocol
The Espoo Convention aims to ensure that its parties assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. Parties should also notify and consult each other on the activities listed in the convention that are likely to have a significant adverse transboundary (cross-border) impact.
The SEA Protocol aims to promote sustainable development by identifying environmental consequences early in the decision-making process of its parties, and to ensure that the environmental considerations are integrated into said process.
Find out more about the Espoo Convention and the SEA Protocol
Aarhus Convention
The UN Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (Aarhus) protects every person’s right to a healthy environment. It grants the public rights and imposes obligations on Parties and public authorities on access to information and public participation and access to justice.
Related links
Related laws: Industrial Emissions Directive, Wild Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, Environmental Crime Directive, Seveso III Directive, Waste Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Offshore Safety Directive, Carbon Capture and Storage Directive
Related topics: Natura 2000
Related strategies: Simplifying permitting processes for renewable energy projects, REPowerEU
Related Commission priorities: European Green Deal and its investment pillar Sustainable Europe Investment Plan
Related Funding programmes: Cohesion Policy 2021 – 2027, Recovery and Resilience Facility
Contact
For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.
