The handbook was developed by the Greening Regional Development Programmes (GRDP) partnership through a collaborative process, drawing on the experience and expertise of the entire partnership. It illustrates the benefits that sound environmental assessment can provide to Cohesion Policy plans and programmes. The overall objective of the handbook is to promote and enable the use of SEA for the integration of environmental concerns and considerations into plans and programmes prepared for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013. Its main message is that environmental assessment, specifically SEA, is a key tool for “greening” plans and programmes, and for improving their overall logic, consistency and chances for success within the overall Cohesion Policy objectives.

There are nine recommended steps for carrying out SEA for Cohesion Policy projects:
1. Determination of the environmental issues, objectives and indicators that should be considered within SEA.
2. Evaluation of the current situation and trends and their likely evolution if the project is not implemented.
3. Assessment of specific development objectives and priorities.
4. Assessment of proposed measures and eligible activities.
5. Assessment of cumulative effects of the entire project.
6. Evaluation of selection criteria for activities or projects to be implemented through the programming document.
7. Evaluation of the monitoring system for the projects.
8. Compilation of the Environmental Report and its submission for consultations with environmental authorities and the public.
9. Decision making and information on the decision.

GRDP project team, tel. +44 1392 442170

01/02/2006

The GRDP Network

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Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

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