The EIA Directive (EU legislation)
on Environmental Impact Assessment of the effects
of projects on the environment was introduced
in 1985 and was amended in 1997. Member States have to transpose
the amended EIA Directive by 14 March 1999 at the latest.
The EIA procedure ensures that environmental
consequences of projects are identified and assessed before
authorisation is given. The public can give its opinion
and all results are taken into account in the authorisation
procedure of the project. The public is informed of the
decision afterwards.
The EIA Directive outlines which project categories
shall be made subject to an EIA, which procedure shall be
followed and the content of the assessment.
Following the signature of the Aarhus Convention
by the Community on 25 June 1998, the Community adopted
in May 2003 Directive 2003/35/EC
amending amongst others the EIA Directive. This Directive
intends to align the provisions on public participation
in accordance with the Aarhus Convention on public participation
in decision-making and access to justice in environmental
matters.
Other EU-legislation is related
to the EIA Directive. IMPEL report shows the interrelation
between EIA, IPPC, SEVESO Directives and EMAS Regulation (summary
- full
text in PDF format).
Search for
EU-legislation related to EIA in EUR-LEX
IPPC-Directive (96/61/EC), SEVESO-Directive (96/92/EC), EMAS-Regulation
((EEC) No 1836/93) and Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
The homepage of UN ECE Convention on access to information,
public participation in decision-making and access to justice
in environmental matters (UN ECE Homepage
Aarhus Convention)
CELEX where you can
search for EIA case-law older than one year (paying service)
