CHINA AND EUROPEAN UNION – SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY, AND MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the most important elements of the Chinese and the European Union policies (EU) in the fled of environment. The first part of the paper points to some characteristics of the environmental situation in China, the strategic framework and basic regulations of China in the environmental fled. In particular, it emohasizes the main elements of importance for understanding the position of China in contemporary policies in the area of climate change. The second part of the paper analyzes the development and the basic elements of EU policy in the fled of environment and climate change. The third part is devoted to the international legal aspects of contemporary policies in the fled of environment and the status of China, i.e. the EU and other countries in the most important international treaties in the environmental fled. The main objective of this paper is to determine the similarities and differences in the policies of China, i.e. of the European Union in the fled of environment and climate change. Criteria for the comparison include several elements: environmental assessment and contribution to global climate change, the historical development of policy and environmental law, policy objectives, the structure of the existing regulations in the fled of environment, attitude towards international obligations and membership in international treaties of the global character, etc. The thesis is considered that the common elements of the policies of China and the EU in the fled of environment are primarily determined by processes at the international level, the recognition of the need for solving global environmental problems and memberships in the relevant international treaties. In this regard, it is noted that there are certain elements that could be considered as a common policy for China and the EU in the fled of environment, but that there were significant differences depending on the special social and economic development and the overall position in the international community.