COMPARISON OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT LEGISLATION IN THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 2, 1273-1280 pp

ABSTRACT

The process of Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is successfully applied as a tool for environmental planning and environmental policy in many countries worldwide. It is generally accepted that the environment has three inter-dependent components:
economic, socio-political and natural. Consequently, integrated environmental assessment and management coupled with sustainable development is critical, and in order to achieve this goal, effective guidelines and implementable legislation are necessary. EIA legislation differs from country to country. This paper evaluates and
compares the effectiveness of the Environmental impact assessment legislation by using the evaluation criteria. The alignment of EIA systems in the east European region could enhance regional sustainable development if managed using similar approaches. This
evaluation aims to determine whether any further amendments and guidelines are necessary to improve the effectiveness of these countries’ EIA systems using the comparative criteria.

Keywords: Environmental impact assessment (EIA), Eastern Europe, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, legislation.