Contents

An introduction to EU environmental policy

Journal:
Manual of European Environmental Policy
ISSN:
1467-0445
E-ISSN:
1740-3529
Publisher:
Earthscan, London, UK
DOI:
10.3763/meep.2010.0001
Author:
Institute for European Environmental Policy
Information last updated:
December 2011
Publication date:
December 2011

Environmental policy is one of the success stories of the European Union (EU). At its founding in 1957, the European Community (EC) had no environmental dimension, but today it has some of the most progressive environmental policies in the world. EU legislation has played a vital role in improving habitat and species protection and river management, and has contributed to dramatic improvements in air and water quality and waste management. Even though significant challenges remain, it is widely acknowledged that EU policy has successfully reduced some pressures on the environment, and has stimulated investment in more sustainable economic growth, for example, through the development of ‘greener’ technologies.

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