The dissertation of Ecologic Alumna Kerstin Imbusch deals with policy-making in EU's recent Eastern Enlargement. By comparing the enlargement processes of environmental policy and Home affairs, it shows that EU-actors selected sector-specific approaches to deal with this challenge.

This book chapter gives an introduction into the environmental policy instruments for the protection of water bodies and reports on a practical case study regarding groundwater management in Hessisches Ried. Starting off with this instrumental approach, the chapter introduces the objectives of the German Working Group of the Federal States on water issues (LAWA) with regard to surface water. It continues with the strategic approach as it was embodied in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and finally presents the actors in the area of water policy.

The precautionary principle is one of the guiding principles of European environmental policy. Looking at Germany's scandal of AIDS contaminated blood bottles, the author examines the failure of the German Federal Health Agency in the fight against AIDS. He identifies potential conflicts looming in the implementation of the precautionary principle and requirements for a suitable institutional framework.

In the magazine of the Hans Böckler Foundation, R. Andreas Kraemer, Wenke Hansen, and Eduard Interviews provide insights into the so-called "Ewers-Gutachten," an expert report released by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. This report – which was supported by R. Andreas Kraemer –deals with options, opportunities, and preconditions of a deregulated, more sustainable water management system.

According to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), all water bodies in the European Union should reach 'good status' by 2015. The WFD is one of the first environmental policy directives of the European Community that explicitly draws on economic considerations for achieving its ambitious objectives. By the end of 2004, an economic analysis of the importance of water uses has to be completed for each river basin district. This article summarises the present implementation status of the economic analysis in Germany and other European Member States and outlines challenges ahead for the reporting deadline 2004.

The article is based on a brochure the author wrote for the project "EcoFuturum – A Sustainable Constitution for Europe" which was co-funded by the European Commission. In the framework of this project, Ecologic published a number of policy papers and carried out a series of workshops throughout the enlarged European Union to discuss the impact of the future Constitution on European environmental policy.

The reform of the energy law - initiated on the grounds of new EU directives - has led to a fundamental paradigm shift in Germany. Ecologic is supporting the German Federal Ministry for the Environment by assessing the revised energy law (Energiewirtschaftsgesetz - EnWG) and its regulations drafted by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, paying particular attention to the environmental aspects.

2004: Deliverable 4 – EUROMARKET Water Liberalisaion Scenarios – Analysis of the Legislation and Emerging Regulation at the EU Country Level. UCL/IHE/Paris VIII/ENGREF/Ecologic.

Homeyer, Ingmar von 2004: The Revision of the Directive on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment. Institutional Opportunity Structures for Effective Contestation of Policy-Making, EUROPUB research project, Deliverable 2, Case Study. Ecologic, Vienna.

The Workshop Summary provides an overview of the very complex issue presented from different perspectives at the Workshop on "Land Use Planning and Management at the Local Level". The emphasis of the summary is on the results of the working groups, which analysed current challenges regarding land use management, elaborated recommendations and identified research needs. The workshop summary is available for download.

As part of the Sustainable Development Strategy process, a conference entitled "Dialogue for the National Sustainable Development Strategy: How could its environmental profile be strengthened?" will be held on 18-19 March 2004. By means of this conference, the German Federal Environment Ministry is seeking to engage all stakeholders in a dialogue, to reflect on achievements and to come up with proposals for the further development of the strategy.

Ecologic is analysing major public expenditure programmes to support environmental infrastructure investments in water supply and wastewater management in different OECD countries of the European Union. Following their evaluation, "lessons learned" for OECD non-member countries will be drawn up. All results will be published in a study.