Lombardy approves new law to overhaul environmental impact assessments

The Regional Council of Lombardy approved a new law on environmental impact assessment (Via), replacing the 2010 regional regulation. The reform aligns Lombardy’s rules with recent national and EU provisions and seeks to streamline procedures, aiming to cut bureaucracy while preserving technical rigour. A single authority will manage assessments, with uniform criteria for competence and a territorial‑prevalence principle for inter‑provincial projects.

The law introduces simplified screening procedures, strengthens the regional SILVIA portal for transparency and public participation, and permits the creation of provincial environmental observers. Fines and procedural fees will be earmarked for monitoring activities. The regional assessor for Environment and Climate, Giorgio Maione, said the reform aims for “a modern process, with a single authority, eliminating competence conflicts and reducing times.” Existing cases will continue under the old rules, while new applications will follow the updated regime.