Benefits of EU Environmental Law to the UK Environment: An Assessment



Benefits of EU Environmental Law to the UK Environment: An Assessment

Introduction

From the perspective of economics, the fundamental role of environmental law is to internalize externalities. Environmental problems are a case of market failure caused by negative externalities. A negative externality is a consequence of an economic activity of one agent decreasing the welfare of another agent if the market mechanism does not mediate this connection between the two individuals. The emissions of airborne pollutants generated by a production process and reducing the air quality in the neighborhood of the plant are among the many environmental examples (Bardach and Robert, 2002). This paper assesses the benefits of EU environmental law to the UK environment in a concise and comprehensive way. The paper has been divided in several headings. The first heading of the paper is Introduction. The second heading of the paper is Discussion. It discusses the topic in a very concise way. The third and the most important headings are Benefits of EU Environmental Law to the UK: An Assessment and How Does It Work In The UK? The final heading the Conclusion which concludes the the overall discussion of the paper.

Discussion

The EU integrates environmental policy into all policies. The main policy body is the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee. The European Parliament decided to set up an environment committee in 1973. It was the 12th specialist committee, added to those set up since the European Parliament first met in 1952. The demand to deal with the consumer concerns at a European level dates back to 1967, when the first member's written question pressed the European Commission to address the issue (Bardach and Robert, 2002). The committee's first directive on motor vehicle emissions was issued in 1970, and the European environmental protection law was agreed to at a conference of heads of state or government in October 1972. The environment committee took on responsibility under cooperation procedure for a series of legislative proposals on consumer protection and food safety. The responsibility includes most areas of environmental, food safety, and public health under the 1999 Amsterdam Treaty.

Tim (2005) mentions the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee has oversight and political responsibility for the activities of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). It has established a multilayered network of political links with other European institutions and international organizations in the areas of environment, public health and consumer protection (Tim, 2005).

Benefits of EU Environmental Law to the UK: An Assessment

Environmental law is the body of law that seeks to protect or enhance the environment. It is nothing new. There have been laws aimed at protecting or improving the environment since at least Old Testament times (Deuteronomy 23: 12-13, which concerns sewage disposal) (Gunningham, et al, 2005).

From such beginnings a wide variety of laws have ...