This leading monograph on European environmental law has been completely updated and revised, taking into account new case law of the Court of Justice, recent environmental directives and regulations, and the new provisions of the Lisbon Treaty. It provides an in-depth analysis of important legal issues of European environmental law. What are the legal grounds for EU environmental policy and on what principles are directives and regulations based? To what extent do EU environmental directives preclude more stringent national environmental standards? What are the requirements the Court of Justice has imposed on the Member States implementing environmental directives? To what extent can European environmental law be relied upon and challenged before national courts and the Court of Justice? How do the Treaty rules on the internal market and undistorted competition interfere with national environmental policy? This fourth edition discusses all major environmental directives and regulations, integrating important judgments of the Court of Justice with their interpretation.