ABSTRACT
This chapter considers and evaluates the role of the EIA Directive as the precursor to the SEA Directive, including the amendments made to it to incorporate changes required by the EC ratification of the Espoo and Aarhus Conventions. Implementation challenges are outlined and structural similarities with the SEA Directive considered. Aside from the changes to the EIA and Environmental Information Directives, the Aarhus Convention has also been responsible for the development of two specific horizontal directives, the Public Participation and proposed Access to Justice Directives, and a Regulation applying its provisions to EC institutions and bodies, which are also discussed in this context. 1 In line with the structure set out in Chapter 3 (which examined the linked duties of harm prevention, cooperation and compensation for damage), links with the Environmental Liability Directive are also analysed.
