Environmental Democracy and Law: Public Participation in Europe (Avosetta Series)

Environmental democracy has several roots and reasons, as well as theoretical foundations, which are taken as a starting point of research in this book. One interpretation of environmental democracy could be that it is a visualization of democratic procedural rights, one of the best options to make environmental rights vital. Usually we take public participation as an integral aspect of environmental democracy, thus the classical three pillars are also discussed - access to information, participation in decision-making, and access to justice - mostly from a European and primarily EU perspective, but the book also has substantial relevance for international law. Concepts, theories, and environmental rights may be valued through their implementation potential, and this forms the largest part of the book: how public participation is implemented in Europe - via the Aarhus Convention, within EU law and practice, and in national law. On the one hand, there are several surveys from Europe, partly thematic (GMO, waste), partly pragmatic (e.g. litigation), while, on the other hand, there are country examples, such as Ireland, as well as a special focus on Hungary - as the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence project, the sponsor of the book, has its center there. Beside special practical examples and even sociological surveys, there is now a unique legal instrument in Hungary which is introduced - that is the ombudsman (now deputy ombudsman) of future generations, the history, concept, and practice of which is discussed in details with many examples. (The Avosetta Series -- Vol. 11) [Subject: Environmental Law, European Law, International Law]Ã?Â? Introduction into the concept of 'environmental democracy' -- Gyula Bándi Theoretical foundations of public participation in administrative decision-making -- Gerd Winter The three pillars of environmental democracy in a European perspective -- Gyula Bándi Right to environment : procedural guarantees -- Gyula Bándi Public participation : human right or an instrument of international administrative law -- Marcel Szabó Public participation under Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention : role in tiered decision-making and scope of application -- Jerzy Jendrośka Implementation of public participation principles : experience of the EU -- Eva Kružíková Clarification and networking : methodology for an institution representing future generations -- Sándor Fülöp Problems and questions of public interest environmental litigation in Hungary and in the EU -- Csaba Kiss Public participation in environmental decision-making in Ireland : the good, the bad and the ugly -- Yvonne Scannell National defence vs. environmental protection : the saga of a radar station in Hungary -- Attila Pánovics Promoting public participation beyond the EU ; the road to environmental democracy -- Marta Szigeti Bonifert Participation and indifference : the state of social participation in Hungary -- Benedek Jávor & Zsolt Beke The Hungarian Parliamentary Commissioner for future generations -- István Sárközy Public participation in GMO regulation -- Ágnes Kovács Public participation in waste legislation of the EU -- Szilvia Szilágyi Public participation in European energy utilization -- András Lovas. Chapter 17. Public Participation in European Energy UtilizationBibliography; Table of Cases; Table of Legislation and Other Regulatory Instruments