Article 6.3 Habitats Directive Implementation in Slovenia

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

5. Process of the implementation of Article 6.3 Habitats Directive

6. 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