EIA: A Barrier for Business or a Tool to Use Properly?
19/03/2026
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is often perceived as a complex and time-consuming procedure that slows down business development.
However, practice shows otherwise: the issue is usually not the procedure itself, but how businesses approach it.
Why challenges arise
EIA is not an isolated process.
It brings together several regulatory areas at once:
urban planning
subsoil use
sanitary requirements
waste management
Most challenges arise precisely at the intersection of these areas.
In other words, EIA does not create problems —
it reveals and highlights them.
EIA as part of European integration
EIA is not just a local regulatory requirement.
It is a key instrument in aligning Ukraine with European Union standards, based on Directive 2011/92/EU.
This means the procedure ensures:
transparency in decision-making
public participation
well-justified conclusions
This represents a fundamentally different regulatory approach compared to what businesses were used to in the past.
In EU countries, EIA procedures typically take from several months to a year or more, depending on the complexity of the project — significantly longer than in Ukraine after the 2023 reforms.
Following these changes, the duration of the procedure in Ukraine has been reduced from over 200 days to approximately 70 days, and the process has been fully digitalized.
At the same time, according to available data, around 85–90% of EIA procedures in Ukraine result in positive conclusions, indicating that the process is functional rather than restrictive.
What is rarely discussed
There is another factor that significantly affects the EIA process but is rarely discussed openly.
In practice, EIA is sometimes used as a tool for:
competitive pressure
political influence
local decision-making leverage
In such cases, the issue lies not in the legislation itself, but in how it is applied.
This is why some businesses seek a more neutral and objective review process at the central level.
Why EIA still matters
Despite all the challenges, EIA performs a critically important function —
it ensures transparency.
In practice, it is often during this stage that:
local communities first learn about projects
information becomes publicly available
transparent dialogue begins
This level of openness is often missing in other regulatory procedures.
The main mistake businesses make
EIA is often treated as a formality or an obstacle that simply needs to be “completed.”
However, an effective approach looks different:
preparation before the procedure begins
understanding related regulatory requirements
proactive risk management
This is what determines how smooth and efficient the process will be.
It is also important to understand that the earlier a business completes the EIA process, the lower the costs and risks at later stages of project implementation.
Otherwise, companies may face the need to revise documentation, adjust project decisions, or even suspend activities after investments have already been made.
There is also a financial aspect.
For obtaining financing — including bank loans or funding from international financial institutions — a completed EIA is often a requirement or a significant factor in decision-making.
This is why EIA should not be treated as a “later stage,”
but as part of strategic business planning.
How we can help
We do not provide turnkey EIA services.
However, we have a clear understanding of where challenges typically arise in practice.
We support businesses by:
helping prepare initial data correctly
taking into account waste management requirements
avoiding common mistakes at an early stage
ensuring proper preparation for the procedure
Conclusion
EIA is not a barrier.
It is a tool.
And the earlier businesses start working with it in a structured and informed way,
the fewer challenges they face.
Because in most cases, complexity is not about the procedure itself —
it is about the level of preparation behind it.
