Article 6.3 Habitats Directive Implementation in Slovenia

International Workshop on Appropriate Assessment of Plans,

Oxford, 1-2 October 2009

Branko Kontic, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana

Introduction

• Background: chemical engineering• Expertise: environmental evaluations (EIA,

SEA), risk assessment & process safety, mass-balance environmental modelling

• Teaching: environmental assessment, environmental protection, environmental engineering

• Working experience: 30 years in environmental assessment

History of EA in Slovenia

• First formal assessment in 1972: Evaluation of alternatives for a motorway Kranj-Ljubljana

• Foundation of SEPO (EIA Group) at the JSI in 1974: based on the agreement between Bank of Ljubljana and the JSI; a pioneer of environmental consideration for plans, programmes, and projects (later on in 80-ies WB, EBRD, IMF tookover this praxis); altogether produced 900 environmental assessment

• Environmental Protection Act in 1993: introduction of obligatory and formal EIA for projects

• Decree in 2005: introduction of obligatory and formal assessment of plans and programmes; involves implementation of Article 6.3 of the Habitats Directive

Process of the implementation of Article 6.3 Habitats Directive

Some issues

• Lack of optimisation (planning alternatives, consideration of development vs conservation goals)

• Understanding of environmental evaluation in the context of spatial/land-use planning

• Relation between scientific information and interests; misuse of scientific evidence: presence of an environmental element (nature) does not imply a decision what to do with that element

• Valuing system, value judgements• Rigidness of the administration, reviewing of

Environmental Reports• Education: research vs administration/regulatory needs