Implementation of EIA directives in Portugal: How changes in civic culture are challenging political and administrative practice.

There is a widespread belief that a dichotomy exists between northern and southern European countries with respect to environmental policy leadership. This paper attempts to analyse some of the factors which underlie the so-called Mediterranean syndrome in environmental policy and legislation in the light of two case studies on the application of European EIA directives in Portugal. The paper shows that changes are taking place in Portuguese society, affecting civic culture, and, as a result, political–administrative practice, which are modifying the conditions under which EIA directives are applied. These changes led to legislative and institutional developments which, in some instances, have gone beyond existing European legislation. It can, therefore, be argued that contrary to the prevailing argument about the dichotomy between leaders and laggards, at the end of the day, the latter are also becoming pioneers in legal–institutional innovation in this field. This article purports to analyse these developments and the lessons that may possibly be drawn from them with a view to improving EIA procedures in southern European countries from the standpoint of both their scientific and technical grounds and their democratic legitimacy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]