The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is generally defined as a systematic and
anticipatory process, undertaken to analyse the environmental effects of proposed plans,
programmes and other strategic actions and to integrate the findings into decision-making.
The purpose of SEA is to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into strategic
decision-making in support of environmentally sound and sustainable development. In
particular, the SEA process assists authorities responsible for plans and programmes, as well
as decision makers, to take into account: