“The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union and Environmental Policy: Challenges, Expectations, Speeds and Flexibility”

Carius, Alexander and Homeyer, Ingmar von and Bar, Stefani. (1999) “The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union and Environmental Policy: Challenges, Expectations, Speeds and Flexibility” . In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 1999 (6th), June 2-5, 1999, pages 31, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Having sketched the general problems and opportunities raised by Eastern enlargement, the remainder of this paper will concentrate on the implications of enlargement for European environmental policy. In this context, the conclusion reached by the European Commission that, as far as Community environmental law is concerned, no accession country will, in the near future, be in a position to meet in total the obligations laid down in the Acquis might give cause for scepticism, particularly as this level of pessimism is unparalleled for any other area of the Acquis. This begs the question of which problems specific to the environmental sector lead the Commission to such a prognosis and further: What are the possibilities of ensuring-in spite of these problems-the greatest possible level of compliance with Community environmental legislation in an expanded European Union?