In the Netherlands, there has been a series of changes of law in order to simplify and improve the complex and fragmented system of environmental law. However, the improvement of sectoral legislation has not led to the desired result. The Dutch legislature now considers a fundamental reform of environmental law necessary. The Environment and Planning Act brings together 26 acts and about 120 governmental decrees in the areas of spatiality and planning, infrastructure, nature, and water in order to create a single act for the physical environment.
This book focuses on one of the key instruments of environmental law, the environmental permit. The goal is to introduce a fully integrated environmental permit system. In the context of this research, an overview will be given of developments in the field of integrated environmental permitting in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Developments in EU environmental law and the new Dutch Environment and Planning Act are also included.
