European Union – Environment. Articles 2(a), 3(1) and 3(2)(a) of Directive (EC) 2001/42 should be interpreted as meaning that an order adopting an urban land consolidation area, the sole purpose of which was to determine a geographical area within which an urban development plan could be carried out, in respect of which it would be permissible to derogate from certain planning requirements, came, because of that possibility of derogation, within the concept of 'plans and programmes' likely to have significant effects on the environment within the meaning of that directive, thereby necessitating an environmental assessment. The Court of Justice of the European Union so held in a preliminary ruling in proceedings concerning the validity of an order of the government of the Wallon Region in Belgium, defining an urban land consolidation area.