Brussels, 12/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - A resounding yes has been given for far stricter environmental impact assessments before projects are authorised. The environment committee at the European Parliament, chaired by Mathias Groote (S&D, Germany), voted on Thursday 11 July in favour of revision of the directive on the environmental impact assessment of a number of public and private projects (Directive 85/337/EEC, the so-called EIA directive), submitted by the European Commission in October 2012, but going far further than the Commission to the great satisfaction of the environmental NGOs.
With their vote, MEPs enlarged the scope of the directive to shale gas extraction and to the taking into account the underground impact of projects. They also asked for projects to be monitored at every phase of their development - including after their closure - and called for an assessment to be made of all relevant alternative projects. They also introduced stricter provisions concerning public information to ensure that the public has full knowledge of the facts in order to express its views and exercise its right of participation.
The European Environment Bureau (EEB), the NGO Justice&Environment and ClientEarth Justice for the Planet welcomed the vote as a “breath of fresh air” as they consider it creates the right conditions for voting in plenary session in favour of a “significantly improved” EIA directive. In a joint press release, they particularly welcome the fact that MEPs explicitly included in the text the use of interim measures to ensure that a project does not begin before the assessment process is complete.
“In these times of austerity, there has been a misguided attempt in some member states to try to use the economic crisis as an excuse to cut corners when it comes to environmental rules - misguided, because in the long term neglecting the environment will come at the expense of the economy”, said Jeremy Wates, EEB Secretary General. Thomas Alge, Chairman of Justice&Environment, drove the nail home further saying: “Numerous stakeholders believe the updated EIA will result in additional burden and costs, yet quite the opposite is true. The new directive will be more efficient and will overcome many practical hurdles to move towards a healthier environment and more transparency”, he said.
The proposed revision aims to rationalise procedures and enhance the quality of assessments. During their first policy debate in March this year at the Environment Council, member states said they feared too much red tape and, although they all admitted the need to update the directive, they had said the measures proposed were not suitable for attaining the objective of simplification (see EUROPE 10813). (AN/transl.jl)