Litigating for the Environment: EU Law, National Courts and Socio-Legal Reality

The Natura 2000 Directives are the very cornerstone of European Union nature conservation policy which create a considerably stricter environmental protection regime than national laws do. The member states, however, have failed to implement the Directives even despite strong pressure from the European Commission. Reinhard Slepcevic shows how French, German, and Dutch environmental organizations try to enforce the Directives through national courts, though with varied success. The author explains the situation by arguing that it will only be possible to enforce EU law effectively through litigation under particular conditions. The consequences, not only for private judicial law enforcement but also for European integration and democratic governance, are significant.