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Project

Circulaire Economie als Standaard voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling in de Europese Unie?

Circular Economy (CE) is a strategy of the European Union for the achievement of the UN-agenda for sustainable development and the European Environmental Action Plan 2014-2020. The legal framework for this strategy consists of regulations, directives and decisions based on legal acts (COM((2016) 739, COM(2015) 614, and Decision 1386/2013/EU). The legal 'context' of the strategy consist of a vision on economic growth (art. 3 TEU), environmental protection (art. 191 TFEU), and sustainable development of external trade partners (art. 121 TFEU).

There is an important question for the legal definition of a circular economy. The answer to this question can only be given within a certain vision and framework of values, a 'context' within which the cirular economy legal framework is positioned, read and interpreted. The CE-context has a specific impact on the CE legal framework itself. To develop an answer to this main question, a first sub-question is developed on the definition of CE within the existing framework and vision of the European Union since 1957 on economic growth, and on the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection (descriptive research question). Because CE is a transversal concept, focus is on the interaction between the CE legal framework and the broader legal framework of vision, principles, objectives and action plans within the European Union.

A second research question is on the effectiveness of the CE legal framework to respond to the vision, values, and principles whereto CE has been designed. Internal criteria originate from substantive law in the European Treaties, already used criteria in existing legislation, in case law where available, and in constitutional law of the European Union. External criteria originate from the public policy framework for institutional analysis and from economic policy on the role of government within the classical macroeconomic 'frame of reference' based on supply and demand factors. Institutional analysis will organize the right focus on institutional legislation, apart from legislation that focuses on 'governance' of a circular economy and a sector-based approach of the European Commission. Economic policy will organize the focus on the role of government as an institutional law-maker. A definition of 'circular economy' is not an act of itself, not an act 'an sich', to be embedded in existing legislation. Substantive legal definition of a European Circular Economy requires a Habermasian reflexive dialogue between 'economic growth' and 'sustainable development'.

Datum:9 aug 2018 →  9 aug 2022
Trefwoorden:European Economic Law
Disciplines:Rechten, Andere rechten en juridische studies
Project type:PhD project