Environmental policy, which was initially regarded as a politically insignificant appendage to economic integration, has become a central area of policy within the EU. The aim of the book is to delve into the underlying connections. The following aspects are highlighted: How can the remarkable increase in environmental policy activities at the European level be explained? What are the central contents and governance patterns of EU environmental policy? How effective and impactful is it? What factors influence its formulation and implementation? What possibilities exist to improve the implementation of European directives at the national level? For this edition, the author has extensively revised the text.