THE EUROPEAN UNION’S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN THE AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Abstract

Motives: This research paper analyzes the legislative process and the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) environmental law as one of the principal tools for achieving and maintaining global ecological safety. Aim: The study was undertaken to determine how the priorities of the EU’s foreign and internal policy are reflected in the legislative process in the area of environmental protection. The problems associated with law enforcement and the implementation of EU legislative acts in national legislation were also examined, and the current state and prospects for policy-making in the area of environmental protection were assessed. The paper considers environmental policy issues and legal regulations in Azerbaijan in the context of EU experiences. The research covers political and legal relations. Results: An analysis of the historical transformation of the EU’s environmental law from an institutional and constitutional perspective was combined with an analysis of the principal aspects and the main trends in the EU’s environmental governance and lawmaking. The EU’s contribution to the development of environmental legislation highlights its approach to the multi-layered dimension of environmental governance internally, in terms of the dynamic relationship between the EU and the Member States, as well as internationally. The EU’s policy and legal regulations in the area of environmental protection can serve as a reliable example for countries in which the environmental agenda has not yet received due attention. The above applies to both strategic planning, regulatory issues, and law enforcement practices.