Integration of EU legal and policy requirements into climate proofing projects for the European Investment Bank (EIB) JASPERS Water Advisory Division
We provided technical assistance services to relevant authorities, project beneficiaries and their consultants in the preparation of high quality EU co-financed water/wastewater, flood prevention, water management and disaster risk management projects compliant with the application of EU legal and policy requirements.
- Client
European Investment Bank (EIB), JASPERS Water Advisory Division - Location Europe
- Services Resilience and Water Management
Identifying relevant aspects of EC guidance
The purpose was to provide a clear direction and resolve common issues and deficiencies in projects seen by JASPERS. A key challenge was identifying which aspects of the evolving nature of European Commission (EC) guidance and communications are relevant to projects seeking EC co-financing, and preparing practical guidance for EU Cohesion Countries.
Capacity building for specific projects
We produced capacity building material specific to water, wastewater, flood and disaster risk management projects, including:
- Guidance documents, training material and example project climate proofing documentation to assist projects undertake the climate proofing process
- Guidance document and training material for improvement in specific aspects of screening and full EIA and Appropriate Assessment (AA)
- Guidance for Managing Authorities to assist them in the project approval and funding decision processes for the 2021-27 EU Programming Period.
Various training events took place across Bulgaria, Greece and Poland covering climate proofing of water, wastewater and flood risk projects and issues relating to the EIA process for proposed water and wastewater projects. There was also virtual online training for the JASPERS EIB Water Advisory Division on the climate proofing process.
Developing and progressing high-quality projects
The new Climate Proofing process is a step change which brings climate mitigation together with the climate resilience assessment. The guidance, training and case studies use this opportunity to further improve the potential for projects to be climate proof.
The Appropriate Assessment guidance includes best practice examples and practical advice for a framework to help assess the effects of a proposed project in screening and full AA. The guidance covers zones of influence, Site Specific Conservation Objectives (SSCOs), assessment of cumulative impacts, and use of a SMARTEE approach to developing and describing mitigation measures.
The EIA guidance includes chapters on the evolution of the baseline environment, cumulative impact assessment, biodiversity and integration of WFD with EIA.
The documents also provide information on how the mitigation hierarchy and No-Net-Loss principles can be used as a framework to help both the EIA and AA procedures.
For more information on this project, contact Tom Sampson or click here for further details on our services in this area.
