In the context of the "Maastricht II" negotiations, reform of the Community's environmental policy is at stake. In particular, the insertion of the notion of "sustainable development", and strengthening the "integration clause", are under discussion. The Commission has proposed establishing a citizens' right to a clean and healthy environment. Effective strengthening of environmental protection is needed, to take into account various objective and subjective elements. These include a tightening up of certain environmental principles with the aim of making them justiciable; procedural safeguarding of environmental needs by institutional reforms in the Communality; and, third, an improvement of the legal standing of environmental associations and individuals. Only then would it be proper to speak of citizen-oriented development towards a European environmental constitutional law.
European Energy and Environmental Law Review