Evaluation of Public Participation in EIA’s focused on Renewable Energy Projects in Greece
Author
Kolona, Lamprini
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-06-02
Pages
65
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvor inkluderende og effektiv den offentlige deltagelse er i VVM-processer for projekter med vedvarende energi i Grækenland. Undersøgelsen tager udgangspunkt i en sammenlignende vurdering af græsk lovgivning om offentlig deltagelse i VVM i forhold til EU-direktivet, Århuskonventionen, IAIA’s best practice samt særligt den danske lovgivning. Analysen er struktureret omkring ni filtre, der dækker fire typer af effektivitet (efter Chanchitpricha & Bond), og den bygger på litteraturstudier og interviews med græske og danske aktører. Resultaterne peger på, at offentlig deltagelse i græske VVM’er ikke er særligt effektiv eller inkluderende; niveauet svarer primært til informationsformidling, om end processen er relativt transparent, idet oplysninger kan tilgås efter anmodning. Afhandlingen peger på, at Grækenland kan overtage flere elementer fra dansk lovgivning—især mere bindende krav til faserne for offentlig inddragelse—men at økonomiske forhold og myndighedsroller adskiller landene, hvilket begrænser direkte overførsel af danske praksisser. På den baggrund gives anbefalinger til at styrke den offentlige deltagelse i græske VVM-processer for vedvarende energi.
This thesis examines how inclusive and effective public participation is within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for renewable energy projects in Greece. The study applies a comparative assessment of Greek EIA and participation provisions against the EU EIA Directive, the Aarhus Convention, IAIA best practice, and—most notably—Danish legislation. The analysis is organized around nine filters reflecting four types of effectiveness (following Chanchitpricha & Bond) and draws on a literature review and interviews with Greek and Danish stakeholders. Findings indicate that public participation in Greek EIAs is not highly effective or inclusive; it largely operates at the level of information dissemination, although the process is relatively transparent because information is available upon request. The thesis concludes that Greece could adopt several elements from Danish legislation—especially more binding requirements for the stages of public inclusion—while recognizing that differences in economic context and the roles of competent authorities limit the direct transfer of Danish good practices. Based on these insights, the thesis offers recommendations to strengthen public participation in Greek EIAs for renewable energy.
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