On 18 June 2026 the National Assembly adopted, in second reading, a package of amendments to the law on environmental impact assessment and to the law on state duty. Most changes concern strategic environmental assessment (SEA), but two affect project developers and donor programmes directly.
Strategic assessment gets a clear scope and a screening stage
The revised Article 21 lists the sectors whose plans and programmes fall under SEA review. The new Article 22 adds a screening step, so authorities first decide whether a full strategic assessment is needed.
- Agriculture, forestry and aquaculture
- Energy, industry and subsoil use
- Transport, communications and territorial development
- Waste management and water management
- Tourism and urban development
Schools and kindergartens
Construction, reconstruction or major renovation of state or community schools and kindergartens no longer needs a separate EIA. The environmental review is folded into the comprehensive state expertise of the design.
Afforestation on non-forest land
Environmental organisations planting forest on non-forest land are exempted from the AMD 300,000 state duty, which lowers costs for donor-funded afforestation programmes.
What it means in practice
Ministries and municipalities preparing sector or territorial plans should expect a screening decision early and budget for SEA where it applies. The amendments also bring Armenian practice closer to its obligations under the Aarhus and Espoo conventions, which matters for internationally financed programmes.