Funding the Green: Environmental Governance Through Spending and its Effectiveness-Related Risks
(2026) Common Market Law Review — Vol. 63, n° 3, p. 747-784 (2026)
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- Abstract
- (en) Reaching the European Union’s environmental objectives necessitates significant investments. EU funding is increasingly recognized as a critical tool for driving this transition, yet the legal framework governing such spending remains underexplored. This paper maps the environmental legal entry-points in EU funding law, analysing how public finance mechanisms are being increasingly leveraged to mainstream environmental concerns. It identifies three core instruments – dedicated funds, spending targets, and environmental conditionalities – through which EU funding law advances environmental goals. While these developments mark a notable shift, they raise three transversal risks regarding their effectiveness, namely the definition of ‘green’ spending, adherence to the polluter pays principle, and the environmental implications of growth-centric funding logic. The paper highlights the evolution of EU public finance law and calls for closer scrutiny of its effectiveness and environmental integrity.
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Citations
Vander Putten, N. (2026). Funding the Green: Environmental Governance Through Spending and its Effectiveness-Related Risks. Common Market Law Review, 63(3), 747-784. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/278657 (Original work published 2026)