Kilian Bizer & Sebastian Lechner 
The European Impact Assessment and the Environment 

This volume contains papers presented in a workshop of international experts in September 2008 in Berlin. The experts discussed how environmental consequences of EU legislation can be incorporated in a more effective way. In other words, this contribution focuses on the question of which measures can strengthen the cons- eration of environmental effects in the EU impact assessment procedure and in the subsequent legislative decision-making process. This allows drawing conclusions for the impact assessment process in Germany. This volume begins with an introductory paper (Bizer/Lechner/Führ) which served as the basis for discussion in our workshop. The questions raised in this paper are addressed by the authors of the subsequent chapters. Stephen White (DG Environment, EU-Commission) discusses the impact assessment from an int- nal perspective within the Commission. Pendo Maro (European Environmental Bureau) reviews the impact assessment practice from the perspective of an en- ronmental NGO. Martin Schmidt et al. discuss the potential for more formalism to strengthen environmental issues within impact assessments and favour a checklist.

Table of Content

Improving the Integrated European Impact Assessment?.- Impact Assessment – Experience from the European Commission.- Views of the European Environmental Bureau on the Commission’s Impact Assessment Procedure – With a Focus on Environment.- The Proportionate Impact Assessment of the European Commission – Towards More Formalism to Backup “The Environment”.- Proportionate Impact Assessment: Discretion, Formalism, and the Undefined Responsibilities of European Decision-Makers.- Multi-Criteria Analysis for Policy Evaluation.- Conclusions.