A Member State deeming it necessary to maintain national provisions on grounds of major needs relating to the protection of the environment, or to introduce new ones based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of the environment on grounds of a problem specific to that Member State arising after the adoption of the applicable implementing measure, may do so following the conditions laid down in Article 95(4), (5) and (6) of the Treaty, that provides for a prior notification to and approval from the Commission.

(11) To take account of the principle in Article 6 of the Treaty, that environmental protection requirements should be integrated into the definition and implementation of Community policies and activities, the definition of public authorities should be expanded so as to encompass government or other public administration at national, regional or local level whether or not they have specific responsibilities for the environment. The definition should likewise be expanded to include other persons or bodies performing public administrative functions in relation to the environment under national law, as well as other persons or bodies actin ...[+++]g under their control and having public responsibilities or functions in relation to the environment.

Concerning the environmental risk assessment for part C, risk management, labelling, monitoring, information to the public and safeguard clause, this Directive should be a point of reference for GMOs as or in products authorised by other Community legislation which should therefore provide for a specific environmental risk assessment, to be carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Annex II and on the basis of information specified in Annex III without prejudice to additional requirements laid down by the Community legislation mentioned above, and for requirements as regards risk management, labelling, monitoring as approp ...[+++]riate, information to the public and safeguard clause at least equivalent to that laid down in this Directive.

(27) Concerning the environmental risk assessment for part C, risk management, labelling, monitoring, information to the public and safeguard clause, this Directive should be a point of reference for GMOs as or in products authorised by other Community legislation which should therefore provide for a specific environmental risk assessment, to be carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Annex II and on the basis of information specified in Annex III without prejudice to additional requirements laid down by the Community legislation mentioned above, and for requirements as regards risk management, labelling, monitoring as a ...[+++]ppropriate, information to the public and safeguard clause at least equivalent to that laid down in this Directive.

(27) Concerning the environmental risk assessment for part C, risk management, labelling, monitoring, information to the public and safeguard clause, this Directive should be a point of reference for GMOs as or in products authorised by other Community legislation which should therefore provide for a specific environmental risk assessment, to be carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Annex II and on the basis of information specified in Annex III without prejudice to additional requirements laid down by the Community legislation mentioned above, and for requirements as regards risk management, labelling, monitoring as a ...[+++]ppropriate, information to the public and safeguard clause at least equivalent to that laid down in this Directive.

Most ISPA projects are covered by Annex I (requiring an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be carried out) or by Annex II (requiring the national authorities to take the responsibility for deciding if an EIA is required, on the basis of certain criteria) of the EIA Directive. One important element of the EIA procedure is consultation with the population concerned and with the relevant environmental authorities. The main purpose is to ensure, in a transparent manner, that environmental aspects are taking into account during the development consent procedure of infrastructure projects. In the first year of the operation of ISPA, the ...[+++]Commission has assisted in ensuring certain minimum standards in this respect.