Further case-law on SEA and the SEA REFIT
In 2022, the European Commission published a collection of CJEU case-law in the field of strategic environmental impact assessment.
The Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) aims to make EU laws simpler, more targeted and easier to comply with. It does so by evaluating and improving existing laws. A recent REFIT evaluated the SEA Directive to ensure that it is suited for its intended purpose. Evaluations provided an evidence-based analysis on whether EU actions were proportionate to their objectives and delivering as expected. This evaluation examined the extent to which the SEA Directive did what it was meant to do. It looked into what works and what can be improved, what degree the objectives had been achieved and why some elements or features were or were not successful.
The evaluation has shown that the SEA Directive remains fit for purpose, brings multiple benefits to the EU and has clear added value. It contributes to wider aims on realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and environmental protection by integrating environmental concerns into the appropriate plans and programmes. A list of the National transposition measures communicated by the Member States concerning the SEA Directive is available in the Official Journal.