Environment MEPs back beefed up environmental impact assessment law

摘要

The European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) has given the green light to a deal stuck with the Council designed to beef up the EU's environmental impact assessment directive (EIA). In a 12 February vote, ENVI backed a proposed update of the EIA by 46 votes to eight, with two abstentions. The update, already informally agreed with the Council, would make assessments clearer, take account of new environmental factors, such as biodiversity and climate change, involve the public via a central web portal and restrict recourse to exemptions.