More than ever, it is important to integrate environmental considerations into the design of projects, investments and reforms to ensure that they are compatible with a high level of environmental protection. Various laws and principles are now being applied at the European level and by the Belgian authorities to implement this objective.
The "SEA Directive" or "Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive" aims to assess the environmental impact of certain plans and programmes at the time of their preparation, with the citizen’s participation.
The 'Do No Significant Harm' (DNSH) principle aims to avoid investments or reforms that would cause significant harm to the environment. This principle is increasingly applied in projects financed by the European Union and the Belgian authorities.