The new Industrial Emissions Directive

The final plan is issued on the basis of inputs from the environmental report and consultation process (Article 8, SEA Directive). The obligations in Article 8 of the directive reflect the iterative nature of the process of environmental assessment as applied to plans and programmes. They also reflect the obligation in Article 7 of the Aarhus Convention which, in conjunction with Article 6 (8) of that Convention, requires that in decisions on plans and programmes due account is taken of the outcome of the public participation.

Referring to Article 9 of the SEA Directive, the final decision has to be communicated to the authorities, the public concerned and any Member State consulted.