Where modules run over two terms as a 30 credit module, SIL students will attend and be assessed on the contents of term 1. Please note that some modules reflect this with an additional "A" in their module code, but this is not the case for all of them due to special assessment arrangements for SIL students.
All assessments are graded on a pass/fail basis.
FOUNDATIONS OF EU ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY (LAWSG005) Credit value: 15 credits (6 ECTS)
Practice Assessment: one 1,500 word practice essay with feedback
Assessment method for UCL Master students: 3,000 word coursework essay
Assessment method for SIL students: 3,000 word coursework essay
Module Overview
Module summary
The European Union has built up a substantial body of law and governance mechanisms relating to environmental protection over the past forty years or so, deploying the full scope of available legal instruments and regulatory techniques over a wide range of policy areas. EU environmental law and policy is enormously important within the national jurisdictions of the Member States of the EU, and is increasingly influential as a model beyond the EU. The aim of this module is to examine the foundations of the environmental law of the EU.
The Treaty was initially silent on environmental protection, but now provides a considered framework for the introduction of law and policy on environmental matters, complete with important overarching principles and objectives, such as the precautionary principle, the integration principle and sustainable development. We will study the development of EU environmental law and policy and the most significant ideas driving this area. EU governance has become increasingly complex as awareness has grown of the proliferation of techniques and participants in EU legal and quasi-legal instruments. We will identify various approaches to and instruments of governance and regulation of environmental protection in the EU.
Module syllabus
Development of treaty framework - Sustainable development - Environmental Principles - Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making - Instruments for Environmental Protection (air) - Risk Regulation in the EU - Federalism: Minimum and Exhaustive Harmonisation and Multi-level governance post-authorisation (GMOs) - Trade and environment - The global context
Recommended materials
There is no single text, but see
Maria Lee, EU Environmental Law: Challenges, Change and Decision making (Hart, 2005);
Joanne Scott (ed) Environmental Protection: European Law and Governance (Cambridge University Press, 2008)
Preliminary reading
Maria Lee, EU Environmental Law: Challenges, Change and Decision making (Hart, 2005);
Joanne Scott (ed) Environmental Protection: European Law and Governance (Cambridge University Press, 2008) (esp chap 1)
Other information
Prizes for this module: There are currently no prizes available for this module.
