Call for Abstracts for the Workshop and Edited Book on Navigating the Environmental Transition: The European Green Deal and the Rule of Law
The Jean Monnet Network GreenDeal-NET is pleased to announce a call for abstracts for a workshop to be held on July 1-2, 2024, in Maastricht (with online participation possible). This workshop aims to explore the multifaceted aspects of the European Green Deal specifically from the perspective of the Rule of Law. This analysis will be carried out by identifying the opportunities and limits of the use legal power by the EU to implement the European Green Deal, and by examining how the increased use of this power is controlled. The workshop is expected to result in the publication of an edited volume co-edited by Professors Mariolina Eliantonio, Kati Kulovesi, Marjan Peeters, and Annalisa Savaresi.
Focus and Background
The European Green Deal, introduced by the EU Commission in December 2019, outlines a transformative process for the EU to ensure sustainability in the face of climate change and environmental degradation. Over the past four years, significant progress has been made, with new instruments adopted, including binding obligations for Member States and industries, governance approaches, and funding instruments, while existing ones are reformed. However, debates and challenges persist, including on the extension of EU competences to new areas, such as social policy, through the Social Climate Fund and their expansion e.g. with respect to forests, energy and environmental permitting. Indeed, the journey towards implementing the Green Deal is surrounded by heated debates, not only in the European Parliament but also in society. Moreover, concerns have been raised about polarization and false information, the independence of courts in some EU Member States, and, not the least, uniform and effective implementation and enforcement. This implies that fundamental legal guarantees for ensuring the quality of environmental decision-making and proper compliance remain crucial to be examined.
In the workshop and edited volume, we aim to analyze the linkages between the European Green Deal and the Rule of Law, thereby focusing on a variety of steering powers (including hard law, governance approaches, soft law, and funding instruments) and how environmental procedural rights, including access to justice, and other instruments help to ensure the legitimacy and effectiveness of EU environmental law-making. We welcome submissions rooted in legal analysis, adopting either a systemic or case-study perspective. While the emphasis should be on EU law, the multi-level governance context can also be considered.
A list of indicative topics is provided in this Annex but abstracts on other relevant topics are also welcome.
Abstract and Timeline
The deadline for abstract submission is December 15, 2023.
Selected authors will be informed about the outcome of the procedure in early 2024
Abstract requirements
- Submit an abstract (of a maximum of 500 words)
- A short biography (of a maximum of 150 words, including a link to your web profile)
- Subject of the email: "Submission of Abstract".
Draft papers for the workshop should be submitted by June 24, 2024 and final versions by September 30, 2024.
The papers should not exceed 10.000 words including footnotes and references. The peer-review process will consist of a) thorough discussions and feedback during the workshop and b) review of final draft chapters by the workshop organizers and co-editors. A limited budget will be available to cover workshop and accommodation expenses.
Address for submitting the abstract and workshop-related inquiries: law-greendeal-net@maastrichtuniversity.nl
The workshop will be held on July 1-2, 2024, in a hybrid mode (In Maastricht with online possibility to join) A limited budget will be available to cover travel and accommodation expenses.
This workshop is organised by:
- Maastricht University: Prof. Mariolina Eliantonio & Prof. Marjan Peeters
- University of Eastern Finland: Prof. Kati Kulovesi & Prof. Annalisa Savaresi
The Jean Monnet Network GreenDeal-NET addresses the complex set of interlocking challenges in governance, policy, and law related to sustainability and climate neutrality which the Green Deal brings to the fore by fostering collaboration on new teaching, research and debating activities among the Network partners and the broader scholarly community in the field.