In the spring of 2015, the project company held public forums in 41 settlements in the vicinity of the site, and in the course of the international environmental impact assessment process in 7 European countries, a total of 9 locations (in Osijek, Vienna, Oradea, Timisoara, Kiev, Ljubljana, Bucharest, Munich and Belgrade) forums and expert consultations, while with three more countries consulted in writing.

Public hearing in Ljubljana (12 October 2015)

The competent authority, the Baranya County Government Office issued a first level environmental license on 29 September  2016, taking into account the experiences of the domestic and international public consultation process and the received opinions and observations, stating that the project complies with the European Union and Hungarian environmental protection and nature conservation regulations. As a result of the second instance environmental protection process, the Pest County Government Office, approved the Paks II. project environmental license, which is thus legally binding and enforceable on 18 April 2017.

The nuclear power plant and the surroundings of the new power plant units’ site

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) deemed the environmental impact assessment of Paks II. project as best practice and the International Atomic Energy Agency deemed it good practice as well. During the review of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) Review Conference, the international community considered the transparency of Hungarian licensing procedures as a very good practice.