The process of European integration has given rise to a new object of study – European society. Several old questions concerning citizenship, democracy, government and institutions must be raised anew, this time at the European level. These are not only academic issues, but also major political concerns at European and member state level.

In the end of 2005 the parties to the Kyoto Protocol convened to decide on a number of operational aspects of the international climate regime. More importantly, they also agreed to launch consultations on future mitigation commitments for the period after 2012, when the current "Kyoto targets" expire. Dr. Camilla Bausch and Michael Mehling analyse the outcome of the meeting in an article and discuss the summit’s significance as a first step in the further evolution of the international climate regime.

The Free University of Berlin organised a conference on behalf of The Permanent European conference for the study of the rural landscape (PECSRL) from 4 until 9 September 2006, focusing on the theme: European rural future: Landscape as an Interface. Rainer Müssner from Ecologic gave a presentation about the importance of landscape issues in public policies. This presentation focused on the following key questions: Is "landscape" a priority issue on the national / European policy agenda?, do we have a coherent "landscape policy"? and what can be done to increase the political "weight" of landscape issues?

There are obvious successes in Transboundary Water Management. How can the Landscape sector profit from these experiences, considering there exists an insufficient level of co-operation between states? Rainer Müssner in collaboration with Eduard Interwies gave a presentation focusing on these issues at the 22nd conference of The Permanent European Conference for the Study of the Rural Landscape.

This Ecologic Brief gives an overview of the main results and policy implications of the HarmoniCOP project. HarmoniCOP provides a comprehensive knowledge base for public participation in water management.

Nocker, Leo De 2007: Costs and Benefits Associated with the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive, with a Special Focus on Agriculture: Final Report.

Kessler, Peter; Michael Mehling; Dora Schaffrin 2006: Assignment: Support the SEPA legislation department in strengthening the legal framework of public interest litigation in China. Berlin.

Bräuer, Ingo; Rainer Müssner, Katrina Marsden 2006: The Use of Market Incentives to Preserve Biodiversity. Final report for the European Commission. Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany.

In his contribution Ingmar von Homeyer examines the level of participatory governance in three issue areas: biotechnology regulation/the revision of the Deliberate Release Directive, European political values/the ‘sanctions’ against Austria/revision of Article 7 TEU, and employment policy/the European Employment Strategy.

Herbke, Nadine; Zbigniew Karaczun; Ruta Landgrebe-Trinkunaite and Thomas Dworak 2006: Deliverable 15 - WFD and Agriculture Linkages at the EU Level – Beyond 2007: Further Research Needs at EU level. Ecologic – Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Berlin.

The objective of this study was to compare different waste management technologies. The most appropriate technologies were defined, as well as the best ways for their implementation. Furthermore, policy instruments for promotion of these technologies were evaluated.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides the basis for concerted international action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impacts. The Handbook aims at providing an overview of the institutional framework as well as the thematic work undertaken under the convention. It targets governments, researchers, non-governmental organisations and others interested in the international climate change negotiations.

Kettunen, M. & ten Brink, P. 2006. Value of biodiversity- Documenting EU examples where biodiversity loss has led to the loss of ecosystem services. Final report for the European Commission. Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Brussels, Belgium. 131 pp.

Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils 2006: EU-Enlargement – A Success Story? Ecologic Institute: Berlin.

Mechel, Friederike; Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf; Peter Sprang et al. 2006: Public Procurement and Forest Certification: Assessing the Implications for Policy, Law and International Trade. Comparing major certification schemes: FSC, PEFC, CSA, MTCC and SFI. Ecologic Institute: Berlin.