Laura Bolado

This Practice Note explains the existing procedures for the revision (amendment) of the EU Treaties and provides some examples of their usage after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It also provides general guidance on ratification and tips on which ‘Treaties’ are not to be considered EU Treaties per se.

This Practice Note provides background to the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EC (RED II), which recast and repealed Directive 2009/28/EC (RED I) RED II sets a legally binding target for 2030 of 32% for the share of energy required to come from renewable sources out of the EU’s overall gross energy consumption. RED II also establishes sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and lays down rules on financial support to enhance the use of renewable energy usage. The recast of RED I was made as part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package. RED II came into force on 24 December 2018.

This Practice Note is a snapshot on the Clean Energy Package (also known as the EU ‘Winter Package’ or ‘Winter Energy Package’) that was presented as a set of legislative proposals and policy measures by the European Commission in late November 2016. The package comprises measures in various energy-related areas including energy efficiency, renewables, the Energy Union and aims to empower consumers while delivering economic growth and jobs creation.

This Practice Note is a snapshot on the NEC Directive 2001/81/EC which sets national upper limits for the total emissions in 2010, and thereafter, of the four pollutants responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone pollution (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia).

This Practice Note provides an introduction to basic EU legal concepts and gives tips and tools to understand and apply EU law in practice. It covers general principles in overview, delineation of competences, types of EU law and compliance obligations.

This Practice Note outlines the main environmental legislation for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as the Persistent Organic Pollutant Regulations 2007, SI 2007/3106 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (Recast POPs Regulation). It also includes the process for derogations and Brexit impact.

This Practice Note focuses on the remedies available in national courts for breach of EU law. The principles of direct and indirect effect are explained as well as the possibility of State liability arising from the breach of EU laws and obligations by acts or inactions attributable to an EU Member State. The availability of damages and the concept of adequate reparation is also considered.

This Practice Note provides a summary of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC (RED or RED I) on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. It covers the purpose, scope, and key provisions of the Directive, as well as details of the implementing legislation in England and Wales. RED I was recast by Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II), and was repealed with effect from 1 July 2021. This Practice Note has been archived following this repeal, and is not maintained.