With the purpose of better aligning the Cypriot legislation with Council Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the aim of this law is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development, by ensuring that an environmental assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment. An environmental assessment, in accordance with articles 6, 13 to 20 and 22 shall be carried out for plans and programmes referred to in paragraphs 2 to 4 which are likely to have significant environmental effects.