Panel 1
Anna Cacciuni, Caterina D'Anna
Environmental conditions are requirements that may be imposed by the EIA screening determination, relating either to the characteristics of the project or to the mitigation and prevention measures aimed at avoiding significant and adverse environmental impacts. Over the period 2004–2023, an average of 6 environmental conditions per determination was recorded. Among these, those for which compliance verification was entrusted to the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA) accounted for approximately 32.6% of the cases.
The indicator represents the total number of environmental conditions contained in EIA screening determinations under state jurisdiction. It also highlights all environmental conditions for which the compliance verification was entrusted to SNPA.
To provide information regarding the response of central public administration in decision-making processes related to environmental assessments.
- Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent amendments
- Legislative Decree No. 104 of 2017
- Decree Law 34/2020 converted into Law 77/2020
- Decree Law 76/2020 converted into Law 120/2020
- Decree Law 77/2021 (Simplification Decree), converted into Law No. 108 of 29 July 2021
- Decree Law 92/2021 (Urgent measures to strengthen the Ministry for Ecological Transition and on sport)
- Law No. 25 of 2022
- Law No. 91 of 2022
- Law No. 6 of 2023
- Decree Law No. 13 of 2023
Panel 2
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Data quality assessment
MASE – Ministry of Environment and Energy Security
https://va.mite.gov.it/it-IT
National
2004-2023
Indicator assessment
The individual EIA screening determinations were analyzed, and all environmental conditions were identified and counted, distinguishing those under the responsibility of SNPA. All environmental conditions contained in the screening determinations issued by MASE, MiBAC, Regions, and Local Authorities were analyzed.
In 2023, 69 director’s determinations of non-subjection to EIA under state jurisdiction were issued, including 455 environmental conditions, with an average of 7 conditions per determination.
The average number of environmental conditions per determination shows a slight increase compared to the previous year (7 vs 6) (Table 1).
Between 2004 and 2023, 626 screening determinations were issued, containing a total of 3,622 environmental conditions, averaging 6 conditions per determination.
The average number of conditions increased from 3 in 2004 to 11 in 2014, then declined in the following years (Table 1).
The application of EIA procedures in Italy reflects broader trends in Europe: the regulatory framework has been strengthened and consolidated through the transposition of European directives; public participation has increased, administrative transparency has improved, and the quality of environmental impact studies submitted for screening has enhanced.
For these reasons, a positive trend is identified: in recent years, the reduction in the average number of environmental conditions may indicate greater attention to the quality of environmental impact studies by project proponents.
Data
Table 1: Number of screening decisions for EIA, number of environmental conditions, and average number of environmental conditions per decision
ISPRA processing based on MASE data
1 Positive and partially positive screening decisions (not subject to EIA) are considered until 2017. Since the entry into force of Legislative Decree 104/2017, “partially positive” decisions no longer exist. Environmental conditions can only be included in screening decisions stating that the project is not subject to EIA.
Table 2: Number of environmental conditions included in national-level EIA screening decisions and percentage of conditions whose compliance verification is under the responsibility of the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA)
ISPRA processing based on MASE data
1 Positive and partially positive screening decisions (not subject to EIA) are considered until 2017. Since the entry into force of Legislative Decree 104/2017, “partially positive” decisions no longer exist. Environmental conditions can only be included in screening decisions stating that the project is not subject to EIA.
Figure 1: Number of environmental conditions included in national-level EIA screening decisions and percentage of conditions whose compliance verification is under the responsibility of the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA)
ISPRA processing based on MASE data
1 Positive and partially positive screening decisions (not subject to EIA) are considered until 2017. Since the entry into force of Legislative Decree 104/2017, “partially positive” decisions no longer exist. Environmental conditions can only be included in screening decisions stating that the project is not subject to EIA.
The number of environmental conditions does not follow a constant trend (Table 1 and Figure 1), likely due to the variety of project types subjected to EIA screening, which reflects the introduction of new sector-specific regulations over the years. Table 2 identifies all environmental conditions for which compliance verification was entrusted to SNPA; during the reference period, these accounted for approximately 32.6% of all conditions. The maximum number of conditions attributed to SNPA (161) occurred in both 2021 and 2023. In 2023, 69 screening determinations were issued (not requiring EIA), totaling 455 environmental conditions, of which 161 (35.4%) were assigned to SNPA.