Environmental impact assessment in the EU and Czech Law

Environmental Impact Assessment as a specific horizontal instrument that serves for fulfilment of the principle of prevention in environment protection has been established in 1969 in the USA and gradually it has been spread into domestic law of many developed countries. Consequentially, it posted its position also in the international and Union law. This institute has been gradually developed into two forms when Strategic Environmental Assessment has been added to the original assessment of projects. This study has been aimed at presenting a complex explanation of historical development of EIA and SEA institutes in the international and union fields, the focus then rests on analysis of the Czech legal regulations. Environmental Impact Assessment into wider associations is a part of presentation by comparing of related sectional environmental tools. Based on comparison and critical assessment, conclusions indicating potential direction of legal regulation of de lege ferenda has been made