Volume XXIV – Number 1
Craig Reid
Abstract: The European Community (EC) is often viewed as a supranational organization given the task of integrating Europe. Though relatively successful in its endeavors as an independent entity addressing issues such as trade and development, the EC does not have a well-developed strategy guiding its environmental policy, nor does it have the ability to enforce policy. Because of this, the EC’s environmental policy is often subject to international criticism. This article examines the specific environmental measures adopted by the EC in areas such as waste, water pollution, air pollution, and chemicals, as well as the verification mechanisms in place to ensure adherence. It shows how the required unanimity in voting is the primary reason behind the EC’s inability to enforce policy. Because of this unanimity requirement, environmental policy is almost always left to individual states to enforce for the sake of political expediency. This piece points out that though often seen as supranational due to successes with trade and development policy, the EC is in fact, an international organization tasked with appeasing and harmonizing the distinct identities of its 12 member states. As a result, criticism of the EC’s inability to address each member’s environmental concerns while still respecting national sovereignty is unwarranted. In its present form, the EC can not provide the answers for the long term environmental problems of each of its members and should not be expected due to the factors limiting the EC’s effectiveness as a governing body.
Key Words: EC, European Community, Environmental, Policy, Pollution, Supranational, International, IGO, Europe
