Environmental Policy Integration

Environmentally sustainable development can only be achieved if environmental policies are integrated into all other areas of public policy. Recognizing this, the European Union has made the principle of environmental policy integration (EPI) a core policy objective. Applying the principle, however, presents very real and important challenges.' 'This volume explores the success with which EPI has been implemented and analyses the problems encountered. The degree of policy integration varies widely from country to country and from sector to sector and the reasons for the variation are correspondingly diverse and often surprising. Some are found at the Member State level, others in the nature of the sectoral policies and their stakeholders' interests. The proverbial 'dirty man of Europe', the UK is actively engaged in EPI domestically, while an environmental 'frontrunner' like Germany is making slow progress.' Although the importance of EPI is widely accepted, and not just in Europe, there has been no systematic study of the practical issues it throws up and the difficulties for policy formulation, decision-making and implementation. This book fills the gap, providing much needed analysis and recommendations for those studying or working on environmental and other sectoral policies.