ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the main philosophy behind European environmental policy. It describes the current state of the environment in South-eastern European countries, and discusses possible future paths they may take. The chapter discusses the European environmental acquis, which covers environmental protection, pollution and other related activities, production processes, procedures and procedural rights, as well as products. It contextualises environmental problems and their suggested solutions. European environmental policy is geared to a few of the most rapidly expanding areas of the Union, addressing issues, inter alia, greenhouse gas emissions trading, production standards, biosafety, recycling and eco-labelling. Despite the difficulties in clarifying the definition and nature of various environmental problems the planet is currently facing, and the possible solutions to these problems, the last four decades have witnessed attempts to address these issues at various levels as humanity's destructive impact on ecological systems grew increasingly more visible nationally and globally.
