AUTHORS: Axel Volkery – Nicola Tilche – Peter Hjerp – Shailendra Mudgal – Andreas Mitsios – Nejma André – Lidia Wisniewska – Christine Lucha – Gesa Homann – Elizabeth Tedsen

Gradual harmonisation of Member States’ approaches to handling complaints over environment law breaches could have major benefits for the EU, is the conclusion of this study by IEEP together with Ecologic and Bio Intelligence Services.

This study combines case studies on 10 Member States with an assessment of options for EU level action. Greater harmonisation of national approaches bears substantial potential benefits in the longer-term, but a legislative approach is challenged by the diversity of national approaches and capacities. An alternative is to issue non-binding guidance under a Recommendation and stimulate lesson-learning.