Draft law creating environmental watchdog sparks civil groups' alarm over limited appeal options

A bill to create a new National Environmental Supervision Authority has drawn criticism from Greenpeace and the Akkumulátor-károsult Települések Igazáért Szövetség, who say the one-step procedure would force civil challengers to pursue only judicial routes. Unlike traditional administrative appeals, a court filing does not automatically suspend a permit, and courts rarely grant immediate relief, meaning projects could continue while lawsuits drag on.

The NGOs highlight the legal and financial burdens on plaintiffs, noting that courts focus on procedural issues rather than substantive environmental concerns. Their seven-page proposal urges the law to define the authority’s remit more precisely, guarantee transparency of environmental data, include public health agencies, and extend a licensing moratorium to pending cases. They also demand that the authority’s own laboratory network and the OKIR database be fully functional before any approvals are issued.