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Description
Public participation in environmental decision-making is one of the most important mechanisms of environmental protection. Particular attention is given to the environmental impact assessment procedures – EIA (including strategic environmental assessment - SEA) and Appropriate Assessment, which include public participation through public inquiry (public access to documentation and public hearing). This project would attempt to create a framework for the smooth implementation of the public consultation process in environmental decision-making in emerging conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The beneficiaries of the project are primarily general public and interested public in environmental procedures, then the public sector (Ministry of Environment and Energy, representatives of local government and self-government), economic sector (practitioners who develop studies in environmental protection procedures and investors), civil sector (NGOs operating in the field of nature and environment protection). This project can also provide a framework for the long-term improvement of the public''s involvement in environmental decision-making. The main impact on beneficiaries is to create consensus on the means, methodology and tools that would enable transparent and effective public participation, especially when talking about public hearing in pandemic conditions. The common role of applicant and partner is communication to the public and key stakeholders, supporting the stakeholder consultations, actively participating in the preparation of instructions for public hearing in pandemic conditions. The applicant will additionally be responsible for coordinating the project''s activities and the partner for administration and reporting on the project.
Summary of project results
One of the main achievements of the project is the formation of a consultation team with which we gathered all relevant stakeholders in the process of involving the public in public hearings.
Based on the answers collected through the annex, we formed a consultation team consisting of civil society organizations, proxies, investors, regional self-government bodies and the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development. Through 3 online workshops, with the consultation team and stakeholders, draft guidelines for public involvement in public hearings in environmental procedures in pandemic conditions were compiled. The final version of the Guidelines, compiled after the workshops, includes an appendix with published literature and recommendations that go beyond pandemic conditions, but are necessary for adequate public involvement in public hearings, which includes recommendations for transparent involvement and improved public participation in public hearings, and proposals for drafting a new Regulation on information and the participation of the public and the interested public.
In cooperation with the representative of the Zagreb County and the authorized person, it was agreed to apply certain guidelines as part of the public discussion for the project "Relocation of part of the state road DC36 Gradec Pokupski - Lijevo Sredičko, Zagreb County". Improvements in informing the public have been agreed, while the digital availability of public hearings has been eliminated due to technical (im) possibilities.