Space and Environment in the
EU
Literature
Inhoud
Selin et al. (2015): Broader, Deeper and Greener: European Union Environmental Union
Environmental Politics, Policies and Outcomes......................................................................................2
Voulvoulis et al. (2016): The EU Water Framework Directive: From great expectations to problems
with implementation..............................................................................................................................2
Stead et al. (2015): Planning Cultures and Histories: Influences on the Evolution of Planning Systems
and Spatial Development Patterns.........................................................................................................3
Lüer & Böhme (2020): Reenergizing European spatial planning.............................................................3
Territorial Agenda 2030: A future for all places - Summary (2020).........................................................4
Oberthür & Dupont (2021): The European Union’s international climate leadership: towards a grand
climate strategy?....................................................................................................................................4
Von Homeyer et al. (2022): Implementing the European Green Deal during the Evolving Energy Crisis 5
Paramana et al. (2023): Achieving coherence between the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and
the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.................................................................................................5
European Commission (2022): Cohesion in Europe towards 2050: 8 th report on economic, social and
territorial cohesion.................................................................................................................................6
1
, Selin et al. (2015): Broader, Deeper and Greener:
European Union Environmental Union Environmental
Politics, Policies and Outcomes
Important findings and outcomes from more than four decades of EU environmental governance:
1. A substantial transfer of legal authority from member states to the supranational level
2. A growing involvement of EU bodies, advocacy groups, and civil society in regional goal-
setting and decision-making
3. The development of elaborate governance systems and mechanisms for making,
implementing, and enforcing policy
4. EU exercise of considerable influence over countries seeking membership before and after
joining the Union
5. Increased EU participation and influence in international fora
6. A mixed record of uneven implementation and varied environmental outcomes in Europe and
across the world
7. Continuing challenges in nascent attempts to engender greater resource efficiency and
sustainability in Europe and beyond.
Ecological and sustainable development outcomes:
1. Decline in industrial pollutions Europeans live longer and healthier lives
2. Still big improvements needed to create a low-carbon resource-efficient economy (in 2050)
a. Improved governance needed on linked issues across areas as biodiversity protection,
agriculture, fisheries control, management of hazardous waste and substances, air
and water pollution and climate change mitigation
b. Intensifying of efforts needed to improve compliance by addressing perennial
problems of incomplete and uneven implementation of legislation in virtually every
environmental policy area
c. Fundamental changes to European and global production and consumption systems
required. Substantial changes in lifestyle and livelihood.
Voulvoulis et al. (2016): The EU Water Framework
Directive: From great expectations to problems with
implementation
EU Water Framework Directive most substantial and ambitious piece of European environmental
legislation till now.
Restoration Europe’s waters
Potential template for future environmental regulations
But main objectives still not achieved (non-deterioration of water status, achievement of good status
for all EU waters).
Why are the expectations not fully realized?
There is a real change of paradigm necessary, a real transformational change, a system-level shift.
This must be recognized for better implementation.
Otherwise, the fading aspirations of the initial great expectations could disappear for good.
2
EU
Literature
Inhoud
Selin et al. (2015): Broader, Deeper and Greener: European Union Environmental Union
Environmental Politics, Policies and Outcomes......................................................................................2
Voulvoulis et al. (2016): The EU Water Framework Directive: From great expectations to problems
with implementation..............................................................................................................................2
Stead et al. (2015): Planning Cultures and Histories: Influences on the Evolution of Planning Systems
and Spatial Development Patterns.........................................................................................................3
Lüer & Böhme (2020): Reenergizing European spatial planning.............................................................3
Territorial Agenda 2030: A future for all places - Summary (2020).........................................................4
Oberthür & Dupont (2021): The European Union’s international climate leadership: towards a grand
climate strategy?....................................................................................................................................4
Von Homeyer et al. (2022): Implementing the European Green Deal during the Evolving Energy Crisis 5
Paramana et al. (2023): Achieving coherence between the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and
the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.................................................................................................5
European Commission (2022): Cohesion in Europe towards 2050: 8 th report on economic, social and
territorial cohesion.................................................................................................................................6
1
, Selin et al. (2015): Broader, Deeper and Greener:
European Union Environmental Union Environmental
Politics, Policies and Outcomes
Important findings and outcomes from more than four decades of EU environmental governance:
1. A substantial transfer of legal authority from member states to the supranational level
2. A growing involvement of EU bodies, advocacy groups, and civil society in regional goal-
setting and decision-making
3. The development of elaborate governance systems and mechanisms for making,
implementing, and enforcing policy
4. EU exercise of considerable influence over countries seeking membership before and after
joining the Union
5. Increased EU participation and influence in international fora
6. A mixed record of uneven implementation and varied environmental outcomes in Europe and
across the world
7. Continuing challenges in nascent attempts to engender greater resource efficiency and
sustainability in Europe and beyond.
Ecological and sustainable development outcomes:
1. Decline in industrial pollutions Europeans live longer and healthier lives
2. Still big improvements needed to create a low-carbon resource-efficient economy (in 2050)
a. Improved governance needed on linked issues across areas as biodiversity protection,
agriculture, fisheries control, management of hazardous waste and substances, air
and water pollution and climate change mitigation
b. Intensifying of efforts needed to improve compliance by addressing perennial
problems of incomplete and uneven implementation of legislation in virtually every
environmental policy area
c. Fundamental changes to European and global production and consumption systems
required. Substantial changes in lifestyle and livelihood.
Voulvoulis et al. (2016): The EU Water Framework
Directive: From great expectations to problems with
implementation
EU Water Framework Directive most substantial and ambitious piece of European environmental
legislation till now.
Restoration Europe’s waters
Potential template for future environmental regulations
But main objectives still not achieved (non-deterioration of water status, achievement of good status
for all EU waters).
Why are the expectations not fully realized?
There is a real change of paradigm necessary, a real transformational change, a system-level shift.
This must be recognized for better implementation.
Otherwise, the fading aspirations of the initial great expectations could disappear for good.
2
