Environmental assessment under the Habitats Directive: something other than a procedure?
Pages | 113-125 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPPEL-02-2018-0009 |
Date | 04 October 2018 |
Published date | 04 October 2018 |
Author | Agustin Garcia-Ureta |
Subject Matter | Building & construction,Real estate & property |
Environmental assessment under
the Habitats Directive: something
other than a procedure?
Agustin Garcia-Ureta
Department of Administrative Law, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Bilbao, Spain
and Faculty of Law, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the assessment procedure under the
European UnionHabitats Directive. The wider scope of this procedure togetherwith the lack of detail as to its
requirements has originated from an important body of case law from the European Court of Justice. The
Court has steadily clarified some of the key matters underlyingthe procedure. Its case law now represents a
significantconstraint for development plan and projects affectingNatura 2000 sites.
Design/methodology/approach –The methodology is based on the analysis of the directive’stext
[Article 6(3) and (4)] in the light of the case law. This paper aims to highlight the relevant findings of the
EuropeanCourt and how they limit the prima facie discretion on the part of the Member States.
Findings –The basic findings could be summarised as follows: the environmental assessment procedure
under the Habitats Directive represents a strong tool for controlling activities affecting Natura 2000 sites.
Unlike the other environmental assessment directives, a negative conclusion concerning their effects
precludes any execution.Significant territorial gaps between plans and projectsand Natura 2000 sites do not
necessarily avoid the carrying out of complete assessments. The conjunction between a general duty to
prevent the deteriorationof sites and environmental assessments requiresthat projects authorised before the
designationof sites may be subject to this procedure.
Originality/value –The originality of this paperis based on a structured presentation of the key matters
surroundingthe assessment procedure in the light of the recent case law.
Keywords Environmental assessment, Compensation measures, Corridors,
Duties of Member States, European Commission supervision, Habitats Directive
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Biological Diversity (CBD), the former Directive does not apply to any wild species in the
European territory but only to a relativelyvaried number of priority species[3]. The drafters
of the Directive followed a similar path to that adopted under the Wild Birds Directive[4].
Nevertheless, they specified in greater detail the procedure for the classification of sites of
Community importance, the stages of which have largely been prolonged in time. Unlike
these matters, both the managementof designated areas and the environmentalassessment
of plans and projects likelyto affect them were drafted in imprecise terms (García-Uretaand
Lazkano Brot
ons, 2015). The territorial effects of the Habitats Directive and the need to
The author would like to thank Alexandra Aragao (Coimbra University) for her comments on a
previous draft.
Environmental
assessment
113
Received19 February 2018
Revised23 April 2018
Accepted9 May 2018
Journalof Property, Planning and
EnvironmentalLaw
Vol.10 No. 2, 2018
pp. 113-125
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9407
DOI 10.1108/JPPEL-02-2018-0009
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