*3.1. Secondary Research Methodology*

A representative sample of SEIA was selected in order to examine the Greek practices in the adoption of SEA methods and techniques. The following selection criteria were implemented:




The deeper understanding of the relationship between development and environment led to the worldwide adoption of SEA processes, which resulted in the writing of numerous corresponding environmental surveys over the past several years. In order to better compare Greek and international practices, a representative sample of reports from the EU member states was compiled, due to the common SEA institutional framework, which governs them after the transposal of the SEA Directive. Furthermore, additional focus was placed on the examination of SEA processes in plans and programs at all levels (international, national, regional, and local) and of different objectives. The methods and techniques utilized therein were indicated or explicitly placed in the various distinct SEA steps. Finally, reports

from open online sources, primarily governmental websites, were also chosen. The aforementioned criteria were also used in this case. The examined reports are depicted in Table 5.


**Table 5.** European SEA environmental reports under consideration.

It should be noted that during the critical assessment of the selected samples, the proper or improper utilization of methods and techniques was not examined, nor was the possibility of selection of alternative methods and techniques. Furthermore, we took into account the processes for the determination of the sectors of implementation (screening) and the extent of application (scoping), in the cases where the corresponding reports were available online.
