Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment Basic information Dates Date of document: Date of publication: Date of effect: July 3, 1985 Entry into force - Date notif. Date of transposition: Date of end of validity: Modified by Corrected by: Modified by: Repealed by: Modifies Affected by case Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber), 27 March 2014. Ayuntamiento de Benferri v Consejería de Infraestructuras y Transporte de la Generalitat Valenciana and Iberdrola Distribución Eléctrica SAU. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunidad Valenciana. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment — Construction of certain overhead electrical power lines — Extension of an electrical substation — Project not made subject to an environmental assessment. Case C‑300/13. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 22 September 2011. Genovaitė Valčiukienė and Others v Pakruojo rajono savivaldybė and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Vyriausiasis administracinis teismas - Lithuania. Directive 2001/42/EC - Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - Plans which determine the use of small areas at local level - Article 3(3) - Documents relating to land planning at local level relating to only one subject of economic activity - Assessment under Directive 2001/42/EC precluded in national law - Member States’ discretion - Article 3(5) - Link with Directive 85/337/EEC - Article 11(1) and (2) of Directive 2001/42/EC. Case C-295/10. Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 17 March 2011. Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and Others v Vlaamse Gewest. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Raad van State - Belgium. Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment - Airports with a runway length of 2 100 metres or more - Concept of ‘construction’ - Renewal of operating consent. Case C-275/09. Case C-2/07: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 28 February 2008 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation, Belgium) — Paul Abraham, Eugène Dehalleux, Jacqueline Starck, Robert Beaujean, Patrick Descamps and Others, Régine Lecomte, Jacques Deheneffe, Mirèse Mailleux, Léon Schreiber, Marie-Paule Cornesse, Claude Farnir, Pascale Bastiaens, Marc Kriescher, Isabelle Lemaire, Jean-Luc Kriescher, Mauro Altafoglia, Charles Franckaert, Fernande Pretto v Région wallonne, Société de développement et de promotion de l'aéroport de Liège Bierset SA, T.N.T. Express Worldwide (Euro Hub) SA, Société nationale des voies aériennes-Belgocontrol, État belge, Cargo Airlines Ltd (Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment — Airport with a runway more than 2100 metres in length) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 1.2 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 1 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 2 Order of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 17 November 2011. Le Poumon vert de la Hulpe ASBL and Others v Région wallonne. References for a preliminary ruling: Conseil d'État - Belgium. Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment - Directive 85/337/EEC - Scope - Concept of 'specific act of national legislation' - Aarhus Convention - Access to justice in environmental matters - Extent of the right to a review procedure in respect of a legislative act. Joined cases C-177/09 to C-179/09. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 10 December 2009. Umweltanwalt von Kärnten v Kärntner Landesregierung. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Umweltsenat - Austria. Reference for a preliminary hearing - Article 234 EC - Concept of ‘national court or tribunal’ - Admissibility - Directive 85/337/EEC - Environmental impact assessment - Construction of overhead electrical power lines - Length of more than 15 km - Transboundary constructions - Transboundary power line - Total length exceeding the threshold - Line mainly situated in the territory of a neighbouring Member State - Length of national section below the threshold. Case C-205/08. Judgment of the Court of 9 August 1994. Bund Naturschutz in Bayern e.V. and Richard Stahnsdorf and others v Freistaat Bayern, Stadt Vilsbiburg and Landkreis Landshut. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Bayerischer Verwaltungsgerichtshof - Germany. Council Directive 85/337/EEC - National transitional rules. Case C-396/92. Order of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 10 July 2008. Salvatore Aiello and Others v Regione Lombardia and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Consiglio di Stato - Italy. Reference for a preliminary ruling - Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment - Construction of a road in Milan. Case C-156/07. Case C-156/07: Order of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 10 July 2008 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cosiglio di Stato (Italy)) — Salvatore Aiello and Others v Comune di Milano, Sindaco di Milano, Comitato tecnico-scientifico per l'emergenza del traffico e della mobilità nella città di Milano, Provincia di Milano, Regione Lombardia, Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, Ministero dell'Interno, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Euromilano SpA, Metropolitana milanese SpA (Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Construction of a road in Milan) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 2.3 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 4 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 1.5 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 3 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 2.1 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 2 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 1.4 Case C-142/07: Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 25 July 2008 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Juzgado de lo Contencioso-Administrativo de Madrid — Spain) — Ecologistas en Acción-CODA v Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/EC — Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment — Refurbishment and improvement works on urban roads — Whether subject to assessment) Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber), 11 September 2012. Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Aitoloakarnanias and Others v Ipourgos Perivallontos, Chorotaxias kai Dimosion ergon and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Simvoulio tis Epikratias. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Directives 85/337/EEC, 92/43/EEC, 2000/60/EC and 2001/42/EC — Community action in the field of water policy — Diversion of the course of a river — Meaning of the time limit for production of river basin management plans. Case C‑43/10. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 11 February 2015. Marktgemeinde Straßwalchen and Others v Bundesminister für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof. Environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Projects which must be made subject to an assessment — Exploratory drillings — Annex I, No 14 — Concept of ‘extraction of petroleum and natural gas for commercial purposes’ — Obligation to conduct an assessment in the case of extraction of a certain quantity of gas — Annex II, No 2(d) — Concept of ‘deep drillings’ — Annex III, No 1 — Concept of ‘cumulation with other projects’. Case C-531/13. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber), 19 April 2012. Pro-Braine ASBL and Others v Commune de Braine-le-Château, intervener: Veolia es treatment SA. Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d’État (Belgium). Directive 1999/31/EC — Landfill of waste — Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Decision relating to the carrying on of operations at an authorised landfill site, in the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment — Concept of ‘consent’. Case C‑121/11. Judgment of the Court of 24 October 1996. Aannemersbedrijf P.K. Kraaijeveld BV e.a. v Gedeputeerde Staten van Zuid-Holland. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Raad van State - Netherlands. Environment - Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects. Case C-72/95. Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 4 May 2006. The Queen, on the application of: Diane Barker v London Borough of Bromley. Reference for a preliminary ruling: House of Lords - United Kingdom. Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment - Crystal Palace development project - Projects falling within Annex II to Directive 85/337 - Grant of consent comprising more than one stage. Case C-290/03. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber), 14 March 2013. Jutta Leth v Republik Österreich, Land Niederösterreich. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Gerichtshof. Environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Consent for such a project without an appropriate assessment — Objectives of that assessment — Conditions to which the existence of a right to compensation are subject — Whether protection of individuals against pecuniary damage is included. Case C‑420/11. Case C-205/08: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 10 December 2009 (Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Umweltsenat — Austria) — Umweltanwalt von Kärnten v Kärntner Landesregierung (Reference for a preliminary hearing — Article 234 EC — Concept of national court or tribunal — Admissibility — Directive 85/337/EEC — Environmental impact assessment — Construction of overhead electrical power lines — Length of more than 15 km — Transboundary constructions — Transboundary power line — Total length exceeding the threshold — Line mainly situated in the territory of a neighbouring Member State — Length of national section below the threshold) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 4.1 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 2.1 Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 18 October 2011. Antoine Boxus and Willy Roua (C-128/09), Guido Durlet and Others (C-129/09), Paul Fastrez and Henriette Fastrez (C-130/09), Philippe Daras (C-131/09), Association des riverains et habitants des communes proches de l’aéroport BSCA (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) (ARACh) (C-134/09 and C-135/09), Bernard Page (C-134/09) and Léon L’Hoir and Nadine Dartois (C-135/09) v Région wallonne. References for a preliminary ruling: Conseil d'État - Belgium. Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment - Directive 85/337/EEC - Scope - Concept of ‘specific act of national legislation’ - Aarhus Convention - Access to justice in environmental matters - Extent of the right to a review procedure in respect of a legislative act. Joined cases C-128/09 to C-131/09, C-134/09 and C-135/09. Joined Cases C-105/09 and C-110/09: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 17 June 2010 (References for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d’État — Belgium) — Terre wallonne ASBL (C-105/09), Inter-Environnement Wallonie ASBL (C-110/09) v Région wallonne (Directive 2001/42/EC — Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment — Directive 91/676/EEC — Protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources — Action programmes in respect of vulnerable zones) {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 1 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 2 Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 26 July 2017. Comune di Corridonia and Others v Provincia di Macerata and Provincia di Macerata Settore 10 – Ambiente. Requests for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per le Marche. References for a preliminary ruling — Environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Directive 2011/92/EU — Possibility of carrying out, a posteriori, an environmental impact assessment of an operational plant for the production of energy from biogas with a view to obtaining a new consent. Joined Cases C-196/16 and C-197/16. Order of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 11 March 2010. Djurgården-Lilla Värtans Miljöskyddsförening v AB Fortum Värme samägt med Stockholms stad. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Högsta domstolen - Sweden. First subparagraph of Article 104(3) of the Rules of Procedure - Directive 85/337/EC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment - Directive 96/61 - Integrated pollution prevention and control - Public participation in the decision-making process for environmental matters - Right of appeal against decisions authorising projects liable to have significant effects on the environment. Case C-24/09. Case C-75/08: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 30 April 2009 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) (United Kingdom)) — The Queen on the application of Christopher Mellor v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment — Obligation to make public the reasons for a determination not to make a project subject to an assessment) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 7 {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 2 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 6 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 10 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 5 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 8 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 9 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 4 Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber), 11 April 2013. The Queen, on the application of David Edwards and Lilian Pallikaropoulos v Environment Agency and Others. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Environment — Aarhus Convention — Directive 85/337/EEC — Directive 2003/35/EC — Article 10a — Directive 96/61/EC — Article 15a — Access to justice in environmental matters — Meaning of ‘not prohibitively expensive’ judicial proceedings. Case C‑260/11. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber), 16 February 2012. Marie-Noëlle Solvay and Others v Région wallonne. Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour constitutionnelle (Belgium). Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment — Concept of legislative act — Force and effect of the guidance in the Aarhus Convention Implementation Guide — Consent for a project given without an appropriate assessment of its effects on the environment — Access to justice in environmental matters — Extent of the right to a review procedure — Habitats Directive — Plan or project affecting the integrity of the site — Imperative reason of overriding public interest. Case C‑182/10. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber), 7 November 2013. Gemeinde Altrip and Others v Land Rheinland-Pfalz. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesverwaltungsgericht. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Environmental impact assessment — Århus Convention — Directive 2003/35/EC — Right to challenge a development consent decision — Temporal application — Development consent procedure initiated before the period prescribed for transposing Directive 2003/35/EC expired — Decision taken after that date — Conditions of admissibility of the action — Impairment of a right — Nature of the procedural defect that may be invoked — Scope of the review. Case C‑72/12. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 15 October 2009. Djurgården-Lilla Värtans Miljöskyddsförening v Stockholms kommun genom dess marknämnd. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Högsta domstolen - Sweden. Directive 85/337/EEC - Public participation in environmental decision-making procedures - Right of access to a review procedure to challenge decisions authorising projects likely to have significant effects on the environment. Case C-263/08. Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 25 July 2008. Ecologistas en Acción-CODA v Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Juzgado de lo Contencioso-Administrativo nº 22 de Madrid - Spain. Directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/EC - Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment - Refurbishment and improvement works on urban roads - Whether subject to assessment. Case C-142/07. Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber), 21 March 2013. Salzburger Flughafen GmbH v Umweltsenat. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof. Assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Articles 2(1) and 4(2) — Projects listed in Annex II — Extension works to the infrastructure of an airport — Examination on the basis of thresholds or criteria — Article 4(3) — Selection criteria — Annex III, point 2(g) — Densely populated areas. Case C‑244/12. N2 A04P2LB A04P2LA A02P1 A04P3 Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 12 May 2011. Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Landesverband Nordrhein-Westfalen eV v Bezirksregierung Arnsberg. Reference for a preliminary ruling: l’Oberverwaltungsgericht für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen - Germany. Directive 85/337/EEC - Environmental impact assessment - Aarhus Convention - Directive 2003/35/EC - Access to justice - Non-governmental organisations for the protection of the environment. Case C-115/09. A01P2 A10BIS A10BISL3 A01P1 Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 16 September 1999. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Others v Autonome Provinz Bozen and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgericht, Autonome Sektion für die Provinz Bozen - Italy. Environment - Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects. Case C-435/97. A02P2 A01P5 A04P2 A02P1 A01P4 Judgment of the Court of 19 September 2000. Grand Duchy of Luxemburg v Berthe Linster, Aloyse Linster and Yvonne Linster. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Tribunal d'arrondissement de Luxembourg - Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. Environment - Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects - Specific act of national legislation - Effect of the directive. Case C-287/98. Case C-263/08: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 15 October 2009 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Högsta domstolen — Sweden) — Djurgården-Lilla Värtans Miljöskyddsförening v Stockholms kommun genom dess marknämnd (Directive 85/337/EEC — Public participation in environmental decision-making procedures — Right of access to a review procedure to challenge decisions authorising projects likely to have significant effects on the environment) {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 10BI Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 7 January 2004. The Queen, on the application of Delena Wells v Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Reference for a preliminary ruling: High Court of Justice (England & Wales), Queen's Bench Division (Administrative Court) - United Kingdom. Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment - National measure granting consent for mining operations without an environmental impact assessment being carried out - Direct effect of directives - Triangular situation. Case C-201/02. Case C-275/09: Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 17 March 2011 (Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Raad van State van België — Belgium) — Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and Others v Vlaamse Gewest (Directive 85/337/EEC — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Airports with a runway length of 2100 metres or more — Concept of ‘construction’ — Renewal of operating permit) {AN|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AN} 1 PT7 {AR|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_370/AR} 1 P2T2 Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 30 April 2009. The Queen, on the application of Christopher Mellor v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) - United Kingdom. Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment - Obligation to make public the reasons for a determination not to make a project subject to an assessment. Case C-75/08. Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 17 November 2016. Stadt Wiener Neustadt v Niederösterreichische Landesregierung. Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof. Reference for a preliminary ruling — Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment — Directive 85/337/EEC — Directive 2011/92/EU — Scope — Concept of ‘specific act of national legislation’ — No environmental impact assessment — Definitive authorisation — Legislative regularisation a posteriori of the lack of environmental impact assessment — Principle of cooperation — Article 4 TEU. Case C-348/15. Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 28 February 2008. Paul Abraham and Others v Région wallonne and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Cour de cassation - Belgium. Directive 85/337/EEC - Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment - Airport with a runway more than 2 100 metres in length. Case C-2/07. Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 17 June 2010. Terre wallonne ASBL (C-105/09) and Inter-Environnement Wallonie ASBL (C-110/09) v Région wallonne. References for a preliminary ruling: Conseil d'État - Belgium. Directive 2001/42/EC - Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - Directive 91/676/EEC - Protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources - Action programmes in respect of vulnerable zones. Joined cases C-105/09 and C-110/09. Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 18 June 1998. Burgemeester en wethouders van Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude and Others v Gedeputeerde Staten van Noord-Holland. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Raad van State - Netherlands. Council Directive 85/337/EEC - New consent for a zoning plan. Case C-81/96. Case C-9/22: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the High Court (Ireland) made on 5 January 2022 — NJ, OZ v An Bord Pleanála, Ireland, Attorney General Case C-348/15: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Austria) lodged on 10 July 2015 — Stadt Wiener Neustadt Legal basis TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, PART SIX - GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE 235 TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, PART THREE - POLICY OF THE COMMUNITY, TITLE I - COMMON RULES, CHAPTER 3: APPROXIMATION OF LAWS, ARTICLE 100 EuroVoc Vocabulary Environment Soil resources Exploitation of resources Environmental impact General provisions and programmes Impact study Building industry Approximation of laws Provisions under Article 235 EEC