VIA e VAS 2.0 - Nuove prospettive per la pianificazione sostenibile

The contribution, which juxtaposes the experiences developed in the case studies with those emerging from the authors’ recent research, assesses the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedures in safeguarding the environment within processes of territorial transformation. Following a necessary overview of the two appraisal instruments, the study addresses the following core issues: • The role and capacity of EIA and SEA to meet the objectives set out in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development; • The actual and effective monitoring of the impacts of projects and plans, including in light of the involvement of the Competent Authorities and all relevant stakeholders. In the concluding section, the contribution highlights the most significant criticalities identified through the analysis and advances a set of reflections to support the further development of assessment pathways for plans and projects. These will be elaborated in greater detail in the final chapter of this volume in the form of guidelines, with particular attention to their relationship with the different phases of infrastructure life-cycle development.