This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the development, making and implementation of European Union environmental politics and identifies the central areas and instruments of EU environmental policy. It analyses the factors influencing not only the formulation but also the implementation of environmental measures in the complex multi-level setting of the EU. On this basis, it takes a critical look at the EU’s effectiveness and problem-solving capacity in the environmental field. Designed as a textbook at undergraduate and graduate level, the book employs a clear and insightful analytical perspective based on the theoretical state-of-the-art of EU policy studies. Thus, it provides an overview of the major theoretical approaches available in the field. At the same time, the discussion is illustrated by a broad range of empirical findings with regard to the formulation and implementation of EU environmental policy. This study is an ideal companion for anyone seeking a concise and accessible introduction into EU environmental politics.

With the European Union's increasing powers its environmental legislation has grown rapidly. This study investigates the dynamics of the Europeanization of environmental policy and concludes that the domestic environmantal policies of relatively green member States are actually hardly affected. The text focuses on policy making in the field of air pollution and acidification between the (former) European Community and one Member State, the Netherlands. Included in the text is a concise history of EC environmental policy, an explanation of the theories of sovereignty, European integration and power-dependance, and final commentary on the future of environmental policy in the European Union.