Research project CP/49 (Research action CP)
Context
The project focuses on the concept of Integrated Product Policy (IPP) as outlined in the European Commission’s Communication of June 2003. The IPP concept gives rise to complex legal, political and policy questions, In particular, it raises a challenge to public authorities on how to manage a wide range of (a) product groups, (b) actors, (c) policy instruments, (d) policy levels, and (d) institutions and departments.
Project description
Objectives
The project has 4 core objectives:
• Explore the political and legal implications of the Commission’s proposal on the future development and implementation of product policies aimed at promoting more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
• Analyze the implications of the Commission’s proposal on IPP on the current body of European law and policies, in the light of the EC Treaty and the acquis communautaire. Clarify the relations between the IPP concept, as proposed by the Commission, and the objectives and principles of EU environmental policy and sustainable development.
• Analyze the impact of the proposed IPP approach on the role of public authorities in the policy process at the European and national (Belgium) level.
Methodology
The project will examine IPP from a legal, political science and public policy perspective.
During the first year, the project will undertake a survey of EU legislation and the acquis communataire relating to product regulation (environmental as well as non environmental) and compare findings with the legal issues arising in service regulation.
The project will consider the relationship between IPP, as a policy and legal concept, and sustainable development, focusing on the application of the principle of integration and on specific legislative initiatives like the Proposed Directive on Energy Using Products.
Finally, the project will contrast the understanding and positions of stakeholders and Member States about IPP, and the experiences to date of the implementation of the IPP concept at the European and national level. It will also consider the reaction of stakeholders to the implementation of the Commission’s IPP initiative and their possible role in its further development.
The second year will involve extensive structured field interviews with the specialist IPP community. It will also further develop the legal examination of service regulation and the potential for application of the IPP approach to services, and examine IPP’s consistency with existing EU legislation. Finally, it will consider the implications of the IPP approach in Belgium.
Interaction between the different partners
The VUB-IES is mainly responsible for the general legal analysis of product and service regulation. CEDRE is responsible for studying the definition and legal aspects of IPP and its relationship with existing Community environmental measures. VUB-POLI is responsible for the research on the role of stakeholders and the impact of IPP on public authorities in Belgium.
Link with international programmes
Links will be made with international research groups, particularly concerning product and service regulation, and implementation of the Commission Communication.
Expected results and or products
The results of the research are expected to be relevant for the scientific debate on environmental policy and multi-level governance and for the ongoing policy debate on the shaping of IPP and other policies for the promotion of sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
Within the scope of the project, different articles will be published in specialized legal and public policy journals. The project will inform the on-going IPP debate by holding a workshop on IPP and EU product regulation in Brussels, disseminating findings at relevant conferences, and publishing its final results in book form.
Partners
Activities
VUB – IES
Survey of existing EC product law and legal issues arising, and relationship with the law relating to services.
VUB - POLI
Study of the experience and understanding of IPP and the role and challenge of stakeholder participation in the IPP framework at the Belgian and European level.
FUSL – CEDRE:
Study of the objective criteria for a legal definition of IPP to determine its scope and differentiating it from existing approaches and other instruments used in EC environmental law.
Contact Information
Co-coordinator
Marc Pallemaerts
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid - Centrum Interactie Recht en Technologie (CIRT)
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 26 42
Fax: +32 (0)2 629 26 62
mpallema@vub.ac.be
http://www.vub.ac.be
Partners
Delphine Misonne
Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL)
Centre d’étude du droit de l’environnement (CEDRE)
43, boulevard du Jardin Botanique
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 211 78 35
Fax: +32 (0)2 211 79 51
misonne@fusl.ac.be
http://www.fusl.ac.be/Files/General/cedre/
Victor Petitat
Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL)
Centre d'étude du droit de l'environnement (CEDRE)
Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 43
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 211 79 50
Fax: +32 (0)2 211 79 51
cedre@fusl.ac.be
petitat@fusl.ac.be
http://www.fusl.ac.be/cedre
Maarten Theo Jans
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen
Pleinlaan 2, 2M209
B-1050 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 36 23
Fax: +32 (0)2 629 20 59
mJans@vub.ac.be
www.vub.ac.be
http://poli.vub.ac.be
Isabelle Bédoyan
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen
Faculteit ESP (M206)
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 14 72
Fax: +32 (0)2 629 22 78
Isabelle.Bedoyan@vub.ac.be
www.vub.ac.be
Irina Tanasescu
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen
Pleinlaan 2, M210
1050 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 14 72
Fax: +32 (0)2 629 22 78
Irina.Tanasescu@vub.ac.be
www.vub.ac.be
Aaron McLoughlin
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Institute for European Studies
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 18 07
Fax: +32 (0)2 629 18 09
Aaron.Mcloughlin@vub.ac.be
www.ies.be
Users Committee
Ludwig Kramer, European Commission, DG Environment
Birgit FREMAULT, Verbond van Belgische Ondernemingen
Anne DE VLAMINCK, Inter-Environnement Wallonie
Anne-France WOESTYN, Federal DG Environment Section Product Policy
Melissa SHINN, European Environment Bureau
Stefanie HUGELIER, Federal Council for Sutainable Development
Françoise NEMRY, ICEDD (anciennement Institut Wallon)
Pieter DRESSELAERS, Planbureau
Joëlle PICHEL, Secrétariat CIDD
Pieter LABEEUW, FOD Gezondheid
Babara DE WULF, BIM/IBGE
Tom ANTONISSEN, Federauto vzw
Caroline PATERNOSTRE, Interrégionale wallonne
The role of public authorities in integrated product policy: regulators or coordinators? : final report
Pallemaerts, Marc - Mc Loughin, Aaron - Jans, Maarten Theo ... et al Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2006 (SP1573)
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