This book investigates the structure, efficacy, and evolution of the European Union's environmental governance system over the past three decades. The authors, a collective of political scientists and policy experts, utilize a comparative framework to analyze how supranational directives interact with national legislative agendas. They argue that the resulting governance structure is inherently multi-level and horizontally complex, characterized by ongoing development rather than a static state of completion.

Experts identify this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of EU environmental policy integration. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and practitioners of European governance.