Unit 2:  The Legal System Within The UK

2.4.1  The Institutional and Legal Basis of EU Environmental Activity

As noted previously the European Union is derived from a series of treaties:

  • The 1951 Paris Treaty setting up the European Coal and Steel Community.
  • The 1957 European Atomic(: Energy Community, Agreement (EURATOM).
  • The 1957 Treaty of Rome creating the European Economic Community (Common Market).

The Rome Treaty has been amended on a number of occasions, notably following an inter-governmental conference in 1986 resulting in the Single European Act and in 1992 the Treaty on European Union, the Maastricht Treaty. Many of the statutory requirements of the UK relating to environmental protection are built upon EU requirements.

The formulation of EU law, and the establishment of its aims and objectives, is undertaken by a number of institutions. There is a democratically elected Parliament, a Council representing the Member States and composed of government ministers, a European Council of the Heads of State or Government, a Commission which acts as custodian of the treaties, a Court of justice to ensure that Community law is observed and a Court of Auditors to monitor financial arrangements and the management of the finances of the Community . It is expected that the role and function of these institutions will be reviewed as part of the consideration of the future strategy of the Community in 1996.