Introduction
Environmental assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of decisions are taken into account before the decisions are made. Environmental assessment can be undertaken either for a variety of individual projects, such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory, on the basis of Directive 2011/92/EU (also known as the 'Environmental Impact Assessment' or, in short, the EIA Directive) or for public plans or programmes from a number of sectors on the basis of Directive 2001/42/EC (also known as 'Strategic Environmental Assessment' or SEA Directive). The common principle of both Directives is to ensure that plans, programmes and projects likely to have significant effects on the environment are made subject to an environmental assessment prior to their approval or authorisation. Consultation with the public is a key feature of environmental assessment procedures.
The Directives on Environmental Assessment aim to provide a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation of projects, plans and programmes with a view to reducing their environmental impact. They ensure public participation in decision-making and thereby strengthen the quality of decisions.
These Directives are interconnected with other environmental legislation (for more details, see a dedicated chapter). The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), focused on biodiversity protection, requires appropriate assessments for plans and projects affecting protected sites. These assessments can be coordinated with EIA and SEA to avoid redundancy. Similarly, the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), aiming to protect and improve water quality, may require coordinated assessments with EIA for projects impacting water resources. Finally, the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) (2010/75/EU), regulating industrial emissions, intersects with EIA by requiring EIAs for IED-covered installations with broader environmental impacts beyond emissions to air and water, such as noise, waste, and land use. In essence, the EIA and SEA Directives are crucial tools for integrating environmental considerations into EU decision-making, working in conjunction with other directives to ensure a comprehensive approach to environmental protection.