"Hazardous Waste Management Policy in the European Union: Case of Germany and Unification Illustrates Need to Consider Principle of Subsidiarity"

Simonsson, Eva. (1995) "Hazardous Waste Management Policy in the European Union: Case of Germany and Unification Illustrates Need to Consider Principle of Subsidiarity". In: UNSPECIFIED, Charleston, South Carolina. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Environmental legislation and especially that relating to hazardous waste management remains an area in which careful consideration has to be given to the nature of the problem before legislation is harmonized and standardized. As this paper illustrates there is a need for harmonized legislation in some sectors such as the export of hazardous waste. As border checks disappear, hazardous waste is free to flow. In other areas, such as the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, each country has to be able to deal with the problem individually; however, the goals and objectives in doing so must be harmonized in order to ensure a cleaner Europe for all. Germany will be used as a case study to illustrate the differences in environmental policy among the Member States of the European Union. German unification will be given special attention and the time granted to the former GDR in catching up with EC environmental legislation. This paper will highlight the difficulties faced in harmonizing environmental legislation as it remains an area assumed to be in conflict with economic growth. The implementation at the national, and sometimes regional level, is necessary at times in order to obtain long-lasting solutions to environmental problems. The case of German unification illustrates the difficulties encountered when harmonizing environmental policy. On the one hand, harmonization of legislation is preferred as it ensures a cleaner Europe. On the other hand, in some areas the principle of subsidiarity would rule in favor of national, even regional, legislation. The differences within the EC are striking. The North-South dichotomy is an often cited problem, and will also be important in this discussion.

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