This document summarizes progress made on strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA) in several Eastern European and Caucasus countries. It outlines key outputs and achievements in each country, including passing new laws on SEA and EIA, conducting pilot projects, training workshops, and developing guidance documents and awareness materials. Overall, progress has been made in establishing legal frameworks, building capacity for SEA and EIA through training, and raising general awareness of their importance for sustainable development.

1. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

2. • Tools for: green growth, attaining Sustainable Development
Goals and address climate change
• Ensure that environmental and health implications of
strategic and project-related decisions on economic development
are considered and addressed before decisions are taken
• Improve planning
• Save time and costs
• Improve decision-making and strengthen governance
(transparency, participation, ownership)
• Streamline economic growth
• Enhance cross-sectoral and transboundary cooperation
Importance of SEA and EIA

3. • Alignment of national EIA and SEA legislation and
procedures with UNECE Espoo Convention & the
Protocol on SEA and EU EIA & SEA Directives
• Building capacity for their effective implementation
following international good practice
Main goals = accomplishments

4. Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Republic of
Moldova
Ukraine

5. Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Republic of
Moldova
Ukraine

6. ARMENIA

7. • The Law on EIA and Ecological Expertise adopted (2014)
• The draft amendments to the Law on EIA and Ecological
Expertise and the draft Governmental Decision on SEA
prepared (2017)
Major outputs and achievements
• Pilot SEA of National Strategic Development Plan,
Road Map, and Long-Term Investment Plan for the
Solid Waste Management Sector of Armenia carried out
(2016 – 2017)
• Training workshops organized (as a part of the pilot
SEA)
• SEA guidelines and SEA/EIA capacity building
‘roadmap’ will be finalized

8. AZERBAIJAN

9. Major outputs and achievements
• Draft legislation on EIA and SEA was revised,
improved and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers
of Azerbaijan Republic
• A number of persons gained theoretical knowledge
on SEA, awareness raised on SEA among
governmental authorities and civil society (video on
SEA in Azerbaijani prepared)
• SEA was applied to the National strategy on
alternative and renewable energy use following
major steps outlined by the Protocol on SEA
• Preparation of SEA recommendation paper was
initiated, the final draft shall foster implementation
of the SEA legislation

10. BELARUS

11. Major outputs and achievements
• SEA was introduced by adoption of the Law on
State Ecological Expertise, SEA and EIA (July
2016)
• Regulation on SEA procedure, providing further
details (content of SEA report, requirement for the
SEA specialist, etc.) approved
• Legal round-tables, drafting sessions
and training workshop organized at the
national and local levels
• Transboundary EIA pilot on Post - Project Analysis
for Khotislavskoye quarry (Belarus – Ukraine)
implemented
• Recommendations for improving transboundary EIA
procedures and carrying out post-project analysis
formulated

12. GEORGIA

13. Major outputs and achievements
• The Environmental Assessment Code was adopted
by the Parliament in June 2017
• Guidelines on Practical Implementation of SEA and
EIA were prepared
• Pilot SEA of the National Waste Management
Strategy and Action Plan was implemented
• A number of experts were trained on SEA (national
training workshops, dedicated training events) events)
• Awareness on SEA was raised (video on SEA in
Georgian prepared, high-level events, national
SEA/EIA capacity development strategy)

14. REPUBLIC
OF
MOLDOVA

15. Major outputs and achievements
• Law on EIA adopted in May 2014 (in force since
January 2015)
• Law on SEA adopted by Parliament in March 2017
(will enter in force in March 2018)
• Draft Guidelines on SEA prepared
• SEA pilots at national (Road Map on Green Economy)
and local (Master Plan of Orhei City) levels
implemented
• A number of people trained on SEA both at the
national and regional levels
• Broad awareness and information campaign in the
country organized (SEA/EIA capacity development
roadmap will be finalized)

16. UKRAINE

17. Major outputs and achievements
• New SEA and EIA legislation prepared, Law on EIA
already adopted and signed by the President –
UNECE assisted in promoting a need to prepare and
introduce legislative framework for SEA and EIA
• Awareness on SEA raised (over sixty representatives
of governmental authorities and CSOs attended SEA
seminars, SEA/EIA capacity development roadmap
will be finalized)
• Pilot project on the transboundary EIA post-project
analysis (Khotislavskoye quarry) was carried out in
cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine
• Methodological recommendations on SEA
application prepared to support implementation of
SEA and EIA procedures

18. SUB-REGIONAL
ACTIVITIES

19. • Overview of legislative and administrative reforms for
implementing SEA in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus
• General Guidance for Developing SEA Framework
Major outputs and achievements
• Three sub-regional events organized:
 Study tour on SEA to the Czech Republic (2014)
 1
st
Sub-regional conference & Training of trainers
workshop: Enhancing SEA in selected countries of Eastern
Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (Georgia, 2015)
 2
nd
Sub-regional workshop: Sharing experience with
introducing SEA and EIA in selected countries of Eastern
Europe and the Caucasus (Ukraine, 2017)
• Manual for Trainers: Application of the Protocol on SEA
• Video and brochure on SEA facts and benefits

20. SUB-REGIONAL
ACTIVITIES
OVERALL
PROGRESS MADE

21. • New legislative framework prepared and – in the most of the
countries – adopted
• General awareness on SEA has been raised, especially among
the decision-makers at the national level and sectoral ministries
• Awareness-raising materials available
• There are capacities at the national level to coordinate SEA and
EIA procedures
• A network of ‘focal points’ has been established to exchange
experience and to communicate on ‘daily matters’
• A ‘core group’ of experts exists in each country able to develop
and deliver trainings on SEA/EIA
• Training materials available