Pacolli reopens all environmental permit files that failed public consultation

The Ministry of Environment has decided to send back for assessment all applications for Environmental Consent whose public consultation does not meet the criteria required by law. This order was announced by the minister herself, Fitore Pacolli.

In a press statement, Pacolli stressed that residents are the most valuable partner in nature conservation. She added that a fair decision-making process in the environmental field cannot be conceived without their active involvement. For this reason, the decision was taken to return to square one all files where legal standards of public hearing were not respected.

The concrete measures of this decision stipulate that any file whose Environmental Impact Assessment Report was not accessible to citizens or where consultation procedures were bypassed will be reopened. Also, no environmental permit will be approved without first holding a full, transparent, and inclusive public hearing.

After restarting the procedure and ensuring access to the assessment report, the applying company, respectively the document drafter, is obliged to organize supplementary forms of communication with the community. This can be done through physical meetings or electronic channels, while the entire process must be carefully documented during the submission or resubmission of the application for Environmental Consent.

Minister Pacolli concluded the statement by underlining that this administrative act significantly increases transparency and accountability. According to her, the goal is for public participation not to remain merely a formality, but to become an essential pillar of the entire decision-making system. She described residents as the main permanent ally in environmental protection efforts and the most important partner in shaping future policies.