Chapter 5 - Initial considerations

Abstract

Both coastal protection (protection from erosion) and sea defense (defence from inundation) are influenced by EU policy and legislation, and by the translation of these at national level. Other legal issues relate to directives and legislation regarding the procedural steps to obtain necessary planning permissions and licenses for any defense scheme (such as consultation and freedom of access to environmental information). These approaches and their translation vary across Europe, but the overarching EU legislative requirements are the same. The chapter identifies the relevant directives that need to be considered when developing proposals for coastal protection and sea defense measures, including LCSs. These directives are divided into vertical and horizontal controls impacting the process. Horizontal directives are the EIA Directive(coastal defense works) and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (coastal works to combat erosion and works that alter the coastline). SEA is required where plans and programs are from particular sectors or otherwise from those which have significant environmental effects, and it sets the framework for future development consent of EIA projects or any plan that requires an appropriate assessment under the provisions of Habitats Directive.