Akkoord richtlijn milieu-effectbeoordeling (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 20 December 2013 (OR. en) PRESSE 608
Agreement on environmental impact assessment directive
The Permanent Representatives Committee today approved a compromise agreed with the European Parliament on a draft directive amending directive /EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. It thereby endorsed the agreement reached between the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and representatives of the European Parliament
The directive is aimed at ensuring a high level of protection of the environment and human health through the establishment of common minimum requirements on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. The amendments agreed adapt the current directive to the policy, legal and technical contexts which have evolved considerably. In particular, the quality of the environmental impact assessments procedure is strengthened and aligned with the principles of smart regulation. In addition, the new directive enhances consistency and synergies with other EU legislation and policies, as well as strategies and policies developed by member states in areas of national competence
Next steps
The agreement paves the way for the formal adoption of the new directive. The text still needs to be formally adopted by the Parliament, whose vote in plenary is expected to take place early next year, and by the Council, which is due to take its decision after the vote in Parliament
See also statement by the Lithuanian presidency.
The Permanent Representatives Committee is composed of the ambassadors of the 28 EU member states. Its role is to prepare decisions of the Council