SEA profile

Updated to: 27 August 2019

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Establishing context

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Implementing SEA

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Informing decision making

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Follow-up

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SEA practice

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NCEA's capacity development activities

A capacity development programme on the introducing SEA in the Southern Caucasus was executed from 2005 until 2008. The NCEA, AMECA, REC-Caucasus and the UNDP were involved in different parts of the programme. Results of the programme were trainings and a SEA manual.

Background information

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History of SEA

None of the laws currently being in force in Georgia contain any provision on SEA. However, requirement on carrying out EIA for plans and programs (what represents SEA in reality) stipulated by the Law on Environmental Permits can be considered as an attempt to introduce the principles of SEA. The Georgian Government signed the Kiev Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to Espoo Convention in May 2003. It is planned to take steps to ratify the Protocol, which envisages the binding requirement on SEA to all Parties at the very early stage of planning.

Legal framework

Enabling law

The legal framework for SEA in Georgia is not clear.  The Law on Environmental Permits seems to suggests a requirement to carry out EIA for plans and programs. This law states that all infrastructure plans, projects and programs (e.g. transport infrastructure development programs, long-term rehabilitation programs of the protected areas, plans and projects for protection and use of water, forest, mineral and the other natural resources throughout Georgia), require EIA before implementation.

National detailed regulation

There are no detailed procedural requirements for SEA.

Scope of application

Law on Environmental Permits defines that all infrastructure plans, projects and programs (e.g. transport infrastructure development programs, long-term rehabilitation programs of the protected areas, plans and projects for protection and use of water, forest, mineral and the other natural resources throughout Georgia), require Environmental Impact Assessment before they are implemented.

Institutional setting

Contact

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Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia 
Address: 6 G. Gulua Str., 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia
Website: http://www.moe.gov.ge/en/home