Transboundary environmental impact assessment

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure aims to reduce or prevent adverse environmental impacts of a project. Environmental impact assessment of plans and programmes (SEA) means assessing impacts as part of the preparation process.

Participation in an ongoing environmental impact assessment in another country

The Finnish Environment Institute is responsible for the information and consultation tasks under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). According to the amendments made to the Finnish EIA Act, the Finnish Environment Institute is the competent authority of the Espoo Convention from 1 January 2023 in Finland. The Ministry of the Environment was previously responsible for these tasks.

The tasks cover both projects, plans and programmes planned in Finland and those that are planned in another contracting party that may have significant transboundary environmental impacts on Finland’s territory. The Finnish Environment Institute provides an opportunity for authorities, organisations, and residents of the contracting parties of the Espoo Convention to participate in these procedures.

In addition, according to the Land Use and Building Act, the Finnish Environment Institute must inform other states of land use plans which could have significant cross-border environmental impacts.

Ongoing projects, plans and programmes

You can find here the ongoing EIA and SEA assessments started in 2023 in other countries:

• Ongoing projects, plans and programmes (in Finnish)
• Ongoing projects, plans and programmes (in Swedish)

You can find the previous EIA and SEA assessments in other countries until 2022:

• Environmental impact assessment (Ministry of the Environment)

Conventions regulating international environmental impact assessments

The Espoo Convention regulates transboundary environmental impact assessments. The SEA Protocol annexed to the Espoo Convention assesses the transboundary environmental impacts of plans and programmes. In addition, Finland is committed to a bilateral agreement with Estonia on environmental impact assessments in a transboundary context.

Decree on the implementation of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 67/1997 (Finlex, in Finnish)

Decree amending the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 81/2017 (Finlex, in Finnish)

Decree amending the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 69/2010 (Finlex, in Finnish)

Decree on the entry into force of the Agreement with Estonia on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context 51/2002 (Finlex, in Finnish)

More information

Senior Officer Laura Aitala-Martesuo, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. +358 295 251 325, laura.aitala-martesuo@syke.fi