The EU and the Environment

1
Lecture 5

• The EU and the Environment

2
Adopting the issue

• Pressures in the 1970s UN Stockholm, public
  awareness, obvious transboundary problems, econ
  level-playing-field, impacts of Single Market.
• Using existing Treaty Articles 2 econ
  well-being/ decent standard of living, 100
  removing market obstacles, 235 enhancing EC.

3
Single European Act 1986

• Integrating soft/ low policy area new legal
  basis
• Objectives preserve, protect, improve quality of
  environ human health prudent/ rational
  utilisation of natural resources.
• Principles preventive action, damage rectified
  at source, polluter pays (PPP).
• Balancing Autonomy and Harmonisation

4
Treaty on European Union 1992

• Stronger integration with Art.2 harmonious and
  balanced development respecting the
  environment.
• Principle of subsidiarity
• Again balancing autonomy and harmonisation

5
Amsterdam (1997) and Nice (2001) Treaties

• Amsterdam minor adjustments sustainable
  development in Art.1 policy integration.
• Nice focus elsewhere new planning and fiscal
  policies Declaration on leading role, market
  based instruments.

6
Other Policy Tools

• Environmental Action Programmes 6th EAP
  Environment 2010 Our Future, Our Choice,
  includes fame, name shame, informed consumer
  choice/ green lifestyle.
• Regulations and Directives harmonising
  procedures, setting qual/quant thresholds,
  protect, market-based tools.
• Initiatives dialogue, green events,
  conferences, declarations.

7
3 Questions

• Q Are policy objectives put into practice?
• Q Has process been smooth?
• Q Have policies been successful/ effective?
• A Problems meeting target date, interpretation,
  long process.
• A Certain degree of Europeanisation but also
  resistance.
• A Difficult to say.

8
The EU as an External Actor

• Interdependency
• EU representation ambiguous competing government
  levels
• Stumbling blocks Commission Council
  Relationship Internal tensions
  Intergovernmental horse-trading (Alberta Sbragia
  green, fence sitters, laggards).

9
Unique Mechanisms

• Burden sharing and flexible targets
• Incentives
• Opt-outs and transitions
• Green option

10
Conclusions

• Opportunities impressive legal framework,
  pulling laggards, flexibility, linking issues.
• Challenges need to agree common position first,
  no clear mandate, implementation deficits, main
  purpose is economic, underlying differences.