The need for an effective and integrated environmental policy: lessons from Hungary

Varjú, Viktor

doi:1429-7132

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Title: The need for an effective and integrated environmental policy: lessons from Hungary

Abstract:

Subsidies of the EU funds resulted in major projects and plans. In order to prevent natural disasters, the European Community – among others – introduced the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Withthe SEA the environmental aspects prevailed in an earlier phase of the planning process. The SEA is mostly new means in the new Member States, hence the planners and stakeholders had to learn to incorporate it into theirpractice. On the other hand, the existing institutional structure of a country influences the planning decision making processes. This paper examines the introduction of and difficulties associated with the SEA in Hungarywhile focusing on institutional settings and integration elements.

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