Still Saving the Earth? The European Parliament's environmental record

TY - JOUR

T1 - Still Saving the Earth?

T2 - The European Parliament's environmental record

AU - Burns, Charlotte

AU - Carter, Neil Thomas

AU - Davis, Graeme

AU - Worsfold, Nicholas Timothy

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - The European Parliament (EP) has been heralded as a champion of environmental policy within the European Union (EU). However, there have been few up to date analyses of the EP’s treatment of environmental legislation, despite the many recent changes that have taken place within the EU. This article reports upon the findings of a research project that has sought to update understandings of the EP’s environmental behaviour by analysing 7,065 of its amendments adopted to environmental legislation between 1999 and 2009. The principal findings of the project are that the EP appears to have become both less radical and less successful in securing strong green amendments into legislation over time. The Commission emerges as a central explanation for the EP’s success in securing the inclusion of its amendments into legislation, and despite its reputation as a partner seeking to advance the environmental agenda does not appear inclined to support the EP’s attempts to green legislation.

AB - The European Parliament (EP) has been heralded as a champion of environmental policy within the European Union (EU). However, there have been few up to date analyses of the EP’s treatment of environmental legislation, despite the many recent changes that have taken place within the EU. This article reports upon the findings of a research project that has sought to update understandings of the EP’s environmental behaviour by analysing 7,065 of its amendments adopted to environmental legislation between 1999 and 2009. The principal findings of the project are that the EP appears to have become both less radical and less successful in securing strong green amendments into legislation over time. The Commission emerges as a central explanation for the EP’s success in securing the inclusion of its amendments into legislation, and despite its reputation as a partner seeking to advance the environmental agenda does not appear inclined to support the EP’s attempts to green legislation.

U2 - 10.1080/09644016.2012.698880

DO - 10.1080/09644016.2012.698880

M3 - Article

SN - 0964-4016

VL - 22

SP - 935

EP - 954

JO - Environmental Politics

JF - Environmental Politics

IS - 6

ER -