In 2015, Georgia finalized the draft Environmental Assessment Code, stipulating inter alia the legal framework for SEA. It is expected that the Code will be adopted by the Government of Georgia in 2016. To establish efficient SEA practice in the country, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Georgia asked for the assistance within the EaP GREEN project in elaborating the national guidelines on the practical application of SEA.

The SEA Guidelines will support implementation of the Environmental Assessment Code by providing practical recommendations on how to apply the SEA procedure set out in the Code. It will clarify the roles and responsibilities of the main actors to be involved in SEA processes, namely, environmental and health authorities, planning agencies and institutions, the public, SEA practitioners, and decision-makers. The Guidelines will also suggest practical tools for SEA application.

The working group is supposed to play a key role in developing the Guidelines – besides relevant experts from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, it shall consist of representatives of the Ministry of Health, other ministries responsible for strategic planning in the main economic sectors, as well as non-governmental sector. The working group will be coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in cooperation with the national SEA experts.