Views of the European Environmental Bureau on the Commission’s Impact Assessment Procedure – With a Focus on Environment

Abstract

EEB’s experience pointed out in this chapter shows a genuine need for further investments in data collection – to identify and collect the relevant data needed for impact analysis and to invest in finding appropriate methodologies – qualitative or quantitative. Our assessment also identified the danger of political influence in impact assessments, which could lead to inappropriate trade-offs and policy choices based not on objective information but on political interests and influence. The need for improvements in transparency – of data, methods and stakeholder participation, and improvements in the consultation modes were also addressed.