An evaluation of eia system performance in eight eu countries

An evaluation of the quality of environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, modifications to projects as a result of EIA, and the influence of changes to EIA procedures in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and Portugal is reported. The overall proportion of “satisfactory” EIA reports sampled increased from 50% to 71% between 1990–1991 and 1994–1996. Several modifications to projects occurred as a result of the EIA process, but there was no apparent trend over time relating to the number or significance of modifications. All the eight Member States had taken major or minor measures to modify EIA procedures and these either have already improved the quality of EIA practice or are expected to do so. A series of recommendations to improve the performance of the EIA process is presented.