ABSTRACT

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a legal instrument recognized worldwide aiming at examining in advance the environmental consequences of certain development projects through a systematic and transparent process. 1 At the European Union level, the EIA Directive 2 is one of the cornerstones of the European Environmental law. An exception to the administrative procedure set in the Directive, is established in art. 1, para. 5, renumbered as art. 1, para.4 in its codified version (Directive 2011/92/EU).