Europe

This chapter describes the development of European Union water law in recent decades. Starting with the economic aim to create a level playing field throughout the European Community, water and environmental law in the European Community developed towards a separate policy field in which environmental protection is an aim in itself. With the Water Framework Directive, a more holistic and integrated approach is now leading in European Union water law. With a change in legal instruments ranging from strictly legally binding standards towards more voluntary and non-binding instruments, however, it can be questioned whether the effectiveness of EU water law is decreasing. Also, the possibilities for citizens to enforce their rights before the courts may be hampered by this new approach.