APA and ICNF to Have New Organization to Accelerate Environmental Licensing

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) are to be restructured to accelerate environmental licensing in Portugal. The reorganization of the two agencies is practically complete and should soon go to the Council of Ministers for consideration. This reform comes in the context of simplifying environmental licensing processes in the country, seeking to reduce the bureaucracy that has been pointed out as an obstacle to investments and projects. The specific details of the proposed changes and the new operating model have not yet been disclosed, but it is expected that the new organization will allow greater coordination between the two entities responsible for environmental management in Portugal.