Environmental assessments

1. Oversight and legal compliance

Assists Contracting Parties in integrating environmental considerations into energy-related projects, plans, and programmes, in line with the requirements of the EIA and SEA Directives.
Verifies that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are properly carried out and comply with the EIA Directive before development consent is granted.
For Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI), ensures that the EIA meets all legal requirements set out in the EIA Directive.

2. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: SEA and NECPs

Supports Contracting Parties in aligning their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) with Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) requirements under the Governance Regulation.
Provides targeted SEA training and organises workshops to strengthen the capacity to prepare high-quality SEA reports.
Assists in integrating SEA findings into final NECPs, ensuring that energy and climate planning reflects sustainability principles and complies with environmental obligations.

3. Policy guidance and operational tools

Document title	Purpose
Policy Guidelines on Permitting and Planning	Support contracting parties in simplifying and shortening permitting procedures while maintaining strong environmental safeguards. Encourages better inter-institutional coordination, improved spatial planning, and public participation.
Operational Blueprint: Designation of Renewables Acceleration Areas	Provides a step-by-step methodology for identifying low-conflict areas for solar and wind energy deployment. Aligns renewable energy development with biodiversity protection and social acceptance.
Policy Guidelines on Small Hydropower Projects	Offers guidance for both EIA and SEA processes related to small hydropower development. Addresses State aid considerations and notification obligations.

Monitoring
- The Energy Community Secretariat monitors and reports annually on the following elements of the EIA /SEA Directive as part of implementation assessments:
  - Assesses the alignment of national legal frameworks with the EIA and SEA Directives;
  - Reviews the institutional set-up for ensuring quality assurance and oversight of experts involved in the EIA process;
  - Evaluates compliance with public participation requirements, including secondary legislation, access to information, and other procedural elements of the EIA;
  - Assesses institutional arrangements such as one-stop shops and the integration of EIA within permitting procedures and streamlining with other assessments;
  - Monitors the integration of environmental considerations into Network Energy plans and programmes.
  - Reviews EIA procedures for Network Energy projects, incorporating legal findings from complaints and cases registered with the Secretariat.
- Monitors the integration of environmental concerns into Network Energy plans and programmes, ensuring compliance with the SEA Directive.

Timeline and tasks

Timeline

Oct 2016

General implementation deadline: Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (2011/92/EU) – Codified Version:

Jan 2019

General implementation deadline: Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (2014/52/EU) – Amending Directive.

Mar 2018

General implementation deadline: Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC):

Tasks

Environmental Impact Assessment Before Project Approval
Before granting development consent, Contracting Parties are required to assess the environmental impact of all projects related to Network Energy. This assessment must consider potential effects on: Human health Biodiversity and ecosystems Water, soil, air, and climate Cultural heritage and the landscape —and taking into account public concerns. This ensures that environmental risks are identified and addressed early in the project planning process.

Environmental Impact Assessment Before Project Approval

Before granting development consent, Contracting Parties are required to assess the environmental impact of all projects related to Network Energy. This assessment must consider potential effects on:

Human health
Biodiversity and ecosystems
Water, soil, air, and climate
Cultural heritage and the landscape

—and taking into account public concerns. This ensures that environmental risks are identified and addressed early in the project planning process.

PECI Projects – Environmental Compliance
Notification Requirement Contracting Parties must notify the Energy Community Secretariat of Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) at the latest when the project is announced to their national public. Compliance Check Upon notification, the Secretariat assesses whether the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) aligns with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

PECI Projects – Environmental Compliance

Notification Requirement
Contracting Parties must notify the Energy Community Secretariat of Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) at the latest when the project is announced to their national public.
Compliance Check
Upon notification, the Secretariat assesses whether the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) aligns with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

Strategic Environmental Assessment for Energy Planning
Contracting Parties must integrate environmental considerations into all energy-related plans and programmes. If a plan or programme is likely to have significant environmental effects, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) must be carried out prior to its adoption. This process ensures that energy planning aligns with sustainable development goals and supports informed, environmentally responsible decision-making.

Strategic Environmental Assessment for Energy Planning

Contracting Parties must integrate environmental considerations into all energy-related plans and programmes. If a plan or programme is likely to have significant environmental effects, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) must be carried out prior to its adoption. This process ensures that energy planning aligns with sustainable development goals and supports informed, environmentally responsible decision-making.

Legal basis and purpose

Legal basis and purpose

By signing the Energy Community Treaty, Contracting Parties committed to aligning their national legislation with EU environmental law, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directives. These legal instruments aim to ensure that environmental considerations are embedded in both individual energy projects and broader planning processes.

The EIA Directive applies to specific public and private projects likely to have significant environmental impacts. It requires that such projects undergo an environmental assessment before development consent is granted. First adopted as Directive 85/337/EEC, it was later codified as Directive 2011/92/EU and strengthened by Directive 2014/52/EU. The Energy Community Ministerial Council incorporated both into the legal framework through Decision 2016/12/MC-EnC.

In contrast, the SEA Directive applies to plans and programmes in areas such as electricity, oil and gas, and renewable energy. It ensures that environmental considerations are integrated from the earliest stages of policy and planning. The SEA Directive was incorporated through Decision 2016/13/MC-EnC.

Together, these directives ensure a comprehensive approach to environmental protection—at both the project and strategic planning levels—within the Energy Community.

Environment

Environmental assessments

Timeline

Tasks

Legal basis and purpose

USEFUL LINKS

Reference documents