D6n SEA review
Karl Fuller, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, UK
Tadgh O’Mahony, Irish Environment Protection Agency, Ireland
Key issues to be addressed
The review of the quality of assessment is a key principle of SEA good practice. As a formal procedure, it is undertaken as a review of a SEA report or document submitted prior to a final decision or approval of a proposed plan or strategy. Depending on requirements, SEA quality review may be undertaken informally at other stages of the process. In the European Union, the implementation of Directive 2001/42/EC has led to increasing interest in member states in developing a systematic framework and approach to review the quality of assessments. Following experience in EIA, a number of SEA “review packages” have been or are being developed. This work has application beyond the EU and in turn can benefit from reference to similar initiatives in other countries.
The purpose of this session will be to take stock of current work on review of quality of assessment in the EU and internationally. It will also focus attention on the generic framework, elements of approach and tools that apply and can be adapted to different requirements for SEA. Specific attention will be given to a “whole process” approach to SEA review, which relates the quality of a report and other outputs to process strengths and weaknesses. This approach also helps to unpack the dimensions of effectiveness and helps to focus SEA follow up. If carried into this stage, SEA quality and performance review can be firmly related. This would allow for more comprehensive (and comparative) reviews of the quality of assessment (as required of EU member states under the SEA Directive).
A short position paper is being prepared. The intent for Prague will be to pre-circulate a draft package for discussion along the above lines. All inputs, contributions and materials that are relevant to this exercise are invited.