Study supporting the preparation of the report on the application and effectiveness of the SEA Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC) : final study

The objective of Directive 2001/42/EC (SEA Directive) is to 'provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development, by ensuring that [...] an environmental assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment'. This report will assist the Commission in preparing the third report on the application and effectiveness of the Directive, as required by Article 12. The sources of information used for this study were largely based on Member States' replies to a questionnaire prepared by the Commission, interviews with Member States' authorities, complementary desk research, a literature review and a review of legal sources, including the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Towards the end of the research period, three focus groups were held with academic experts and practitioners in the field. The report consists of two main parts. The first is an implementation report with chapters on the national legal and administrative arrangements and the state of play, the handling of the main stages of SEA and the state of implementation. The second part assesses the Directive against five evaluation criteria effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value.