Research project CP/12 (Research action CP)
Context
The project aims to examine the scope for policy-making of the Belgian authorities concerning the adoption of product standards in compliance with the international trade regulations (WTO) and the European Community law. The product standards in view are justified in regard to an objective goal of sustainable development. The project connects thus the national decisions with their juridical supranational context.
Project description
Objectives
The project aims to verify whether the Belgian state disposes of possibilities of action, considering the limitations posed by the supranational law, to put into action a policy of product standards in implementation of the federal law of 21 December 1998 related to product standards. The juridical examination of the limits imposed by the supranational framework, forms indeed a necessary condition for each policy that aims to realize sustainable development.
Methodology
The first year of the project is devoted to a profound analysis of the supranational rules and policies, controlling the product policies adopted in consideration of a sustainable development (national law, community law and the WTO regulation).
The second year relates to the realisation of case studies, examined on the base of priority product groups, this with the intention of having in view the standards that could be applicable to them.
Finally, the ultimate objective of the project is to offer the policy-makers and various interest groups a vademecum of pertinent juridical rules.
Interaction between the different partners
The RUG is mainly responsible for the Belgian juridical aspects, the FUSL is responsible for the aspects of the Community law, while the VUB is responsible for the aspects of the international trade law. Finally, the ULB is responsible for the political analyses. Considering there’s an interaction between these four aspects, each month a joint meeting is held between the four different research groups. There will also be organised a number of congresses.
Links with international programmes
In the long term, alliances will be made with international research groups, particularly concerning the conflict between environment and WTO.
Expected results
Within the scope of the project, different juridical publications will be published in specialized journals (Cahiers de droit européen, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen, ...).
A vademecum will be published, containing:
- on the one hand, a test-diagram combining the different restrictions of the adaptation of product standards;
- on the other hand, the more specific steps undertaken concerning specific products.
Finally, an interuniversity colloquim will be organized with reference to the project.
Partners
Activities
- VUB: study of the obligations from the international environmental and commercial law:
First year: general part: study of the international law (WTO-regulations, ...).
Second year: case study.
- FUSL
First year: general part: study of the European law and the regulation concerning environmental tax law.
Second year: case study.
- RUG:
First year: study of product standards, the competition law, the regulation concerning state support and normalisation.
Second year: case study.
- ULB:
First year: analysis of the priory product groups on the basis of their impact on the environment and the policy related to it.
Second year: contributing to the study of the various restrained product groups, by means of a quantitative part, by research of the data, the indications and the describing factors of the concerning sectors.
Coordinates/Details
Coordinators:
- Nicolas de Sadeleer, Director of CEDRE, FUSL
43, boulevard du Jardin botanique, B-1000 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 211 79 50
- Marc Pallemaerts, Professor at VUB, Faculty of law
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 26 42
- Edwin Zaccaï, Professor at ULB, IGEAT, Centre de développement durable
50, avenue F.D. Roosevelt,B-1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 650 43 22
- Luc Lavrysen, Professor at RUG
Universiteitstraat 4, B-9000 Ghent
Tel: +32 (0)9 264 69 27
Users Committee
- Nancy Da Silva - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement - Services fédéraux pour les Affaires environnementales - Bruxelles (suppléante)
- Jan De Smedt - Federale Raad voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling (FRDO) - Brussel
- Katrien Debeuckelaere - Federaal Planbureau - Task Force Duurzame Ontwikkeling - Brussel
- Paul Geeraert - FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu - Federale Diensten voor het Leefmilieu - Brussel (plaatsvervanger)
- Pieter Labeeuw - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement - Services fédéraux pour les Affaires environnementales - Bruxelles (suppléant)
- Peter Loncke - Openbare Afvalstoffenmaatschappij voor het Vlaamse Gewest (OVAM) -Mechelen
- Bernard Mazijn - Universiteit Gent (UGent) - Centrum voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling (CDO) - Gent
- Catherine Rousseau - Centre de Recherche et d'Information des Organisations de Consommateurs (CRIOC-OIVO) - Bruxelles
- Anne-France Woestyn - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement - Services fédéraux pour les Affaires environnementales - Service politique des produits - Bruxelles
La faisabilité d'une politique environnementale des produits en Belgique : rapport final
Misonne, D. - De Sadeleer, N. - Lavrysen, L. ... et al Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2004 (SP1379)
[To download]
[Exhausted]
Juridisch vademecum voor een milieuvriendelijk federaal productbeleid : algemene vraagstellingen
Misonne, Delphine - Bodard, Katia - Horvat, Stanislas ... et al Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2004 (SP1401)
[To download]
Vade-mecum des balises juridiques pour une politique fédérale des produits favorable à l'environnement : problématiques générales
Misonne, Delphine - Bodard, Katia - Horvat, Stanislas ... et al Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2004 (SP1402)
[To download]
[To order]
Legal constraints on national measures to promote environment-friendly products : general issues
Misonne, Delphine - Bodard, Katia - Horvat, Stanislas ... et al Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2004 (SP1403)
[To download]
[Exhausted]
