The cornerstone of the law on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment is the prevention of pollution. This principle is expressed in three different ways. Firstly, the term "interaction" between factors as an expression of the ecosystem in Article 3 means that protection has shifted from the factors to the system. Secondly, the term "impact" includes nuisances so that the environment must be protected even when damage does not occur. Finally, low probabilities are sufficient when forecasting impacts. This kind of prevention is the standard to be incorporated into the legislation of the Member States and put into effect.
European Energy and Environmental Law Review