SEA as a controlling instrument in preparation of national strategies in Serbia

Abstract

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) represents the valuation of potentially significant impacts of plans or strategies on the environment, and the specification of measures for the prevention, minimization, mitigation, remediation or compensation of adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Adopted national strategies in Serbia were not always followed by adequate control provided by SEA, but this practice is changing in recent years. Serbian Climate strategy with Action Plan (still in the process of adaptation by the Government) has opened new chapter in the participative planning process, since the overall process of strategic planning within Climate strategy was followed by perpetual evaluation of proposed scenarios and mitigation and adaptation measures. All phases of the process were monitored and evaluated by the Working group of stakeholders from relevant institutions. For the first time in the Serbian planning practice the Scoping report was prepared, within the process of SEA. This report is obliged by EU directives, but not by Serbian law. Nevertheless, it has made a great improvement of the overall SEA and Strategy process, since it was served as a filter for non-adequate measures given within the Strategy. Having that in mind, this paper will present results of that new practice and methodological improvement of SEA process in evaluation of national strategies in Serbia.