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Decree-Law No. 11/2023: Changes and Simplifications to RJAIA Environmental Licensing Procedures
The "environmental simplex" eliminates redundant licences and procedures, simplifies AIA deadlines, and creates the Single Environmental Report.
Decree-Law No. 11/2023, of 10 February, known as the "environmental simplex", establishes a comprehensive reform of environmental licensing procedures in Portugal, eliminating licences and acts deemed unnecessary, without compromising environmental protection, and aiming to accelerate the energy transition.
- Reduced cases requiring case-by-case AIA screening, with clearer thresholds — for example, for solar plants, based on the area occupied by panels and inverters.
- Tacit deferral deadlines now counted from receipt of the Environmental Impact Study, rather than from the initial request.
- Authorities may request additional documents or clarifications only once, and the deadline for opinions was reduced to 15 business days.
- Creation of the Single Environmental Report, centralising companies' environmental reporting obligations.