Strategies of the 'green' member states in EU environmental policy-making

This article investigates the strategies of the 'leaders' in EU environmental policy-making. A typology of strategies of influencing EU environmental policy is introduced, distinguishing between different kinds of 'pushers' and 'forerunners'. With the help of this typology, the positions and strategies of the 'green' member states after the accession of Sweden, Finland and Austria are analysed. It is concluded, among other things, that differences in strategies of articulating environmentally progressive positions in the EU may seriously thwart effective alliance-building between the 'leaders'. Denmark is identified as the most activist 'green' member state. In Sweden and Austria, pragmatism now prevails. The Netherlands and Finland have the most constructive approach. Germany has largely abandoned its activism of the 1980s in favour of more defensive tendencies. Because of its political and economic impact, the role of Germany is crucial among the 'green' member states.

[1]  A. Zito.  Environment and the Nation State: The Netherlands, the European Union and Acid Rain , 1998 .

[2]  Duncan Liefferink,et al.  European Environmental Policy: The Pioneers , 2000 .

[3]  J. Larsson,et al.  The Role of the European Court of Justice , 1998 .

[4]  Annica Kronsell.  Policy innovation in the garbage can : the EU's fifth environmental action programme , 1997 .

[5]  Katharina Holzinger,et al.  Politik des kleinsten gemeinsamen Nenners? Umweltpolitische Entscheidungsprozesse in der EG am Beispiel der Einführung des Katalysatorautos , 1994 .

[6]  Adrienne Héritier,et al.  The accommodation of diversity in European policy‐making and its outcomes: Regulatory policy as a patchwork , 1996 .

[7]  R. Putnam.  Diplomacy and domestic politics: the logic of two-level games , 1988, International Organization.

[8]  R. Wurzel.  The role of the Eli Presidency in the environmental field: Does it make a difference which member state runs the Presidency? , 1996 .

[9]  Stanley R. Johnson,et al.  The Environmental Policy of the European Communities , 1995 .

[10]  M. Shanks.  Leaders and Laggards , 1973 .

[11]  M. S. Andersen,et al.  Greening the EU: National positions in the run‐up to the Amsterdam treaty , 1998 .

[12]  Adrienne Héritier,et al.  Die Veränderung von Staatlichkeit in Europa : ein regulativer Wettbewerb: Deutschland, Großbritannien und Frankreich in der Europäischen Union , 1994 .

[13]  Joseph H. H. Weiler,et al.  The Transformation of Europe , 1991 .

[14]  A. Weale.  Environmental rules and rule‐making in the European Union , 1996 .

[15]  B. Connolly.  Environment and the Nation State: The Netherlands, the European Union and Acid Rain , 1998 .

[16]  D. Judge.  Predestined to save the earth : the environment committee of the European Parliament , 1992 .

[17]  L. Krämer.  Focus on European Environmental Law , 1992 .