Text tabled : A7-0272/2011

  Nuno Teixeira (PPE), in writing. – (PT) Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union mentions that ‘Union policy on the environment shall aim at a high level of protection’ and that its action must be based ‘on the precautionary principle and […] that preventive action should be taken’. I am voting for this proposal for a directive because I agree with the harmonisation of the general principles of assessment of certain public and private projects in the area of the environment. I believe projects can only be officially approved by the competent authorities following ex ante evaluation of their real effects.

The Member States should also be given the freedom to set thresholds and criteria allowing projects without a significant environmental impact to be exempt from evaluation. In line with Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention, I consider it extremely positive for the public to be involved in the decision-making processes of projects that affect the environment, by increasing the involvement of local communities and their resulting accountability. However, it is important to create rules and procedures for their active participation, and it is also important to establish an environmental culture that reconciles the development of the regions with the protection of nature.