EU and UNECE
The legal framework for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is further defined at the levels of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Union (EU).
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
The international requirements for SEA are set out in the UNECE SEA Protocol. This protocol was signed at the 5th Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in 2003 in Kyiv by 35 countries, including Austria. It entered into force on 11 July 2010.
European Union (EU)
At the EU level, the SEA Directive provides a uniform legal framework across the Member States. It was adopted in July 2001 and had to be transposed into national law by all EU Member States by 21 June 2004.
Legal Framework (strategischeumweltpruefung.at) (in German only)
Directives, Protocols, and Guidance
- Directive 2001/42/EC (EUR-Lex)
- SEA Protocol of 12 March 2004, English (PDF, 180,7 kB)
- EU Guidance on Implementing the SEA Directive, English (PDF, 346,9 kB)
- Guidance on Integrating Climate Change (PDF, 1,5 MB)