The Aim of the Directive
The SEA Directive entered into force on 21 July 2001 and during its 24 years of existence, it has never been amended , which makes it a unique piece of EU environmental legislation. The SEA Directive introduced the SEA of various public plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment. Such effects are presumed if the plan or programme presents a framework for a future project which needs the EIA, or which may affect a Natura 2000 site.
The objective of the SEA Directive is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation, adoption and implementation of plans and programmes, with the aim of promoting sustainable development throughout planning processes. This objective should be achieved by ensuring that an environmental assessment is carried out for those plans and programmes which are identified as likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Like the EIA Directive, the SEA Directive is somewhat minimalistic in words but very ambitious in its aims. The SEA assesses the plans and programmes in a complex way, taking into account cumulative impacts in the fields of fauna, flora, human health, soil water, air, cultural heritage, etc. Furthermore, measures to reduce adverse effects need to be identified. Unlike the EIA Directive, however, the SEA Directive requirements have not been amended to address the recent challenges such as climate change in a more complex way.