The influence of environmental policies on mineral permitting in Europe: Challenges and insights from Spain and Sweden

Abstract

Environmental and social impacts of mineral extraction pose significant challenges, particularly in Europe, where the mineral potential is underutilised due to these concerns. There are numerous environmental policies at European Union level to protect ecosystems and their services, but also at national level, which significantly correlate with extraction activities, especially with extraction permits. This study investigates the influence of European Union environmental policies on the permitting process for mineral activities, considering interactions between different governance levels and actors. Through use case investigations in Spain and Sweden, biodiversity and water protection, i.e. Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive, were identified as key challenges influencing mineral activities including permitting procedures. By assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of these policies, the study applies the evaluation criteria of coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency. The findings indicate that challenges in implementing and executing Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive are particularly prevalent at regional and local levels due to the complex legal landscape, which directly influences the permitting process.