The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a national procedure aimed at gathering sufficient and timely information about the environmental impacts of a development proposal. Through an EIA, the possible environmental damages and nuisances associated with a proposed project become evident. This provides decision-makers with adequate knowledge about the environmental consequences associated with a developer’s proposal before they grant approval for the development. The EIA Report is a particularly important component of the procedure as it outlines the alternatives to the proposed project and the possible mitigation strategies for minimizing any associated environmental harm.

The Seminar on Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure was conducted between 16 and 18 June, 2004. Fifteen French-speaking magistrates, judges, and officials of public ministries, from Belgium, France, Italy, Lebanon, and Switzerland participated in the Seminar.

Objectives
 Inform participants about the EIA procedure and its significance as an essential environmental management tool.
 Outline the means for the adequate implementation of this procedure and compare its application in different countries.

Outcomes
 Familiarization with the main problems encountered in applying the EIA.
 Experience exchange between participants through case presentations of national jurisprudence.

Partners
 Ecole National de la Magistrature
 Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
 The University of Paul-Cézanne
 VEOLIA Environment