The use of apps that are linked to the EIA portal is a particularly user-friendly and effective form of public participation. This makes it easy for users to be informed about ongoing and new EIA procedures by subscribing to certain regions or procedure types in the app and then receiving notifications about the start of procedures, upcoming deadlines and decisions by the authority and project developers.
Ukraine
The chatbot developed in Ukraine can be highlighted as a particularly good example. The NGO Safe Dnipro has developed a chatbot, SafeEcoBot, which checks the EIA register and sends users notifications about new EIA procedures. Users can subscribe to specific regions in Ukraine. The chatbot can be operated via the messenger services Telegram and Viber. The SafeEcoBot also contains data on air quality, radiation exposure and fires.
Source: Screenshot SaveEcoBot
Source: Screenshot SaveEcoBot
Ideas competition
In an ideas competition organised by UfU, a concept for an app was developed that enables users to network and participate in the development of infrastructure projects at European level as part of the EIA process. Users can share, like and comment on projects. They can subscribe to various profiles, e.g. of project developers, environmental organisations and other users. Profiles can also be created for specific infrastructure projects. There is a feed on the main page that shows new posts from subscribed pages. Users have a profile and can send direct messages to other users. In addition, the app also enables bottom-up participation by citizens by organising themselves and sharing petitions, for example.
