The evolution of environmental and sustainability provisions in the selected European Union policies

The paper explores the evolution of environmental and sustainability provisions in EU’s sectoral policies, focusing on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and consumer policy. The author assesses the reasons for the differences in the level of incorporation of environmental and sustainability measures into the sectoral policies. This topic was chosen due to its relevance in the EU studies and the gap in literature. The first chapter discusses the historical development of environmental policy in the EU, highlighting the emergence of Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) and sustainable development. The second and third chapter constitute an analysis of the CAP and consumer policy, providing background, policy objectives and the latest history of the green measures within both frameworks (from the beginning of 21st century). Furthermore, they assess why the evolution of environmental and sustainability provisions in both policies had diverging paths, identifying strengths and challenges. The conclusion does not only summarize the main differences, but also outlines and compares the factors accounting for the differences in the EPI between CAP and consumer policy: legal basis and policy origins and coherence, environmental impact, policy objectives, as well as integration logic.