Integra Consulting Services Ltd.

Implementing the SEA Directive: Experience from the new EU Member States

Martin Smutny

Overview

• Introduction• Background• Major issues • Conclusions

Introduction

• Consultancy company based in the Czech Republic

• Projects in the SEA field (CEE, EECCA, Asia)

• Personal experience with – SEA for NSRF/OP in the Czech Republic,

Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia– Capacity building on SEA/EIA in CEE– Preparation of guidelines/legislation

• More info www.integranet.cz

Background

• Presentation reflects mainly experience from the Czech Republic and Romania (altogether 8 OPs and 1 NSRF)– Basic characteristics – Key success factors – Main problems– Lessons learned

Basic characteristics

• SEAs fully conducted by the external consultancy

• Developers of the programmes – responsible ministry with the involvement of the external consultancy

• Strict and complicated SEA legislation• Powerful role the SEA authorities

• Use of the GRDP methodology on SEA

Key success factors

• SEA in parallel with the program preparation

• Communication with the programming team

• Good knowledge of the whole area of the Structural Funds

• Communication with the MoE• Focus on the relevant environmental

issues

Main problems

• Long processes with many uncertainties – Content of the programme – Terms and deadlines– Implementing structure

• Changes of the programme after SEA• Lack of understanding of SEA purpose /

environmental issues in general

• Low public interest

Lessons learned

• Conducting SEA = capacity development process

• SEA for OPs is close to SEA for policies (no specific projects, no specific locations)

• The real environmental impacts will depend on a way of the OPs implementation

• Strong focus on the monitoring and environmental criteria for the project evaluation and selection is necessary

Conclusions

• SEA can provide valuable inputs / results….but it is necessary to fulfil general preconditions

• The environmental report is “only” summary of the outputs, not the single final result

• Role of the national environmental authorities is a key for the enforcement of SEA results

• Further expert capacities for the environmental issues within the implementing structures are needed

Thank you for your attention!

martin.smutny@integranet.cz