Without their proper enforcement, governmental commitments to improving the state of the environment are prone to remain but 'greenspeak'. The European Union has developed a raft of legislation intended to enhance standards to protect the environment. This book provides an overview of the current legal principles of the European Union on how EU environmental law may be enforced. It examines the subject of EU environmental law enforcement by providing a detailed account of the various legal arrangements that may be used for the purpose of upholding EU environmental norms and critically assesses the practical impact of those arrangements. In particular, issues of efficacy and accountability are analysed in detail. Spanning three parts, the book focuses on the principal modes of EU environmental law enforcement: namely, the role of the European Commission, possibilities for private law enforcement and the role of national authorities. This is the first book to examine EU environmental law enforcement in such a comprehensive manner. It provides a useful reference resource for scholars and practitioners in the area and encourages legal and political debate on the subject at many levels.
Introduction; EU institutional framework of enforcement; Article 226 EC
infringement proceedings; Article 228 EC infringement proceedings; Appraisal
of the European Commission's role; Enforcement by private persons; Remedies
in national courts for breaches of EU environmental law; Human rights and EU
environmental law enforcement; Taking legal steps against the European
Commission; Other means to hold the European Commission to account;
Enforcement by national authorities; Criminal law and the enforcement of EU
environmental legislation; Conclusion.
Martin Hedemann-Robinson is a Lecturer in Law at Brunel University in London. During his tenure at Brunel, he has also worked as a legal administrator in the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission 2001-2003 dealing with waste management issues.
