ABSTRACT

This chapter highlights the importance of investigating determinants in the Member States at large as well as determinants within the subnational regions. It addresses the key arguments and then evaluates the map in the light of the research findings. The research has argued that the study of subnational regions and their actors can help explain why the European Union (EU) is suffering from an implementation deficit in the environmental policy area. By distinguishing between national and subnational government levels the aim is to contribute new and vital insights to the study of EU environmental policy implementation, insights which have been hitherto neglected by 'state-centrist' analyses. The chapter provides a short outlook on the future of EU environmental policies and assesses to what extent the EU can act as an environmental 'problem solver'. It also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.