INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES IN THE FIELD OF SUBSOIL USE

Abstract

This article analyzes international practices in the field of subsoil use, focusing on approaches adopted by European Union Member States, where raw-material security policies are combined with high standards of environmental protection and procedural fairness. The aim of the study is to synthesize the legal and institutional mechanisms governing access to subsoil resources and to identify tools that minimize the environmental and social risks associated with extraction. The research is based on a comparative legal analysis of EU law and national models (licenses/concessions) in a number of EU countries, as well as on a systematization of oversight and reporting practices. It is established that the “European model” is comprehensive in nature: a mining permit is not self-sufficient and is implemented in conjunction with environmental impact assessment procedures, water-protection requirements, biodiversity conservation regimes, rules on the management of waste from extractive industries, and mechanisms of environmental liability for damage. The study highlights the significance of financial guarantees for reclamation and mine-closure plans, which transform restoration costs into a predictable element of the project model. It is substantiated that transparency of payments and disclosure of information on subsoil use strengthen the accountability of both the state and companies and reduce corruption risks. Particular attention is paid to the EU trend concerning critical raw materials, which encourages faster permitting through coordination (“single points of contact”), digitalization, and parallelization of stages without lowering environmental standards. The article concludes that effective subsoil use in the EU is ensured by a combination of stable rules, scientifically grounded criteria for the acceptability of impacts, effective supervision, and early public participation in decision-making. The practical value of the article lies in developing recommendations for improving national regulation: transparent tenders for subsoil plots, integrated monitoring, open registers of permits and payments, and mandatory financial guarantees for environmental restoration. Typical institutional solutions for improving the quality of oversight are also outlined.