CADA tracker · source extraction
(41)
Regulation (EU) 202X/XXX [on speeding-up environmental assessments] (27)
establishes a common acceleration framework for environmental assessments to boost
the Union’s roll-out of key technologies, reduce dependencies and increase
competitiveness. Procedures linked to environmental assessments should be
accelerated and streamlined for plans, programmes and projects across all sectors of
the economy while maintaining high levels of protection of human health and the
environment. Some sectors may, however, require faster environmental assessments.
To ensure the coherence of the legal framework for environmental assessments, while
accommodating the need for accelerated deployment in certain strategic sectors,
Regulation (EU) 202X/XXX [on speeding-up environmental assessments] establishes
a dedicated toolbox. Given their role in ensuring the achievement of the Union’s
climate and environmental objectives through their contribution to improving energy
efficiency, enabling clean energy integration, and providing the infrastructure needed
for smarter grids, transport systems, and low-carbon technologies, and their
contribution to the Union’s resilience and economic security by ensuring reliable
infrastructure in the Union to protect critical services and strengthening the Union’s
capacity to operate independently, data centre projects deployed in acceleration zones
should be considered strategic projects within the meaning of Regulation (EU)
202X/XXX [on speeding-up environmental assessments] and therefore benefit from
the dedicated toolbox established under that Regulation. Member States should
establish an aggregated baseline permit reflecting the specific characteristics of each
identified acceleration zone. That aggregated baseline permit issued by public
authorities should cover the permits commonly required for such activities within the
area, excluding the grid connection permits.