"The idea that the polluter must pay is a cornerstone of EU policy... the time has come for the EU to put the 'Polluter Pays' principle into practice."

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a procedure for considering the potential environmental impacts of land use change. It has become an important aspect of planning applications throughout the world, is a legal requirement across the EU, and is required for project feasibility assessments by the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

EIA places the onus on developers to prove the environmental case for development. They must submit detailed information to the Local Planning Authority in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement. This must include information on mitigation and remediation for adverse impact, enhancement of beneficial impacts, necessary data and collection methods, and information on alternatives.