The Need for Flexibility and Differentiation in the Protection of Vulnerable Areas in EU Environmental Law: The Implementation of the Nitrates Directive in the Netherlands

The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) offers EU Member States the unique choice to apply the nitrate regime in either designated areas or on their entire territory. The Netherlands has opted for a whole territory approach but is tempted to change this policy. This article investigates the legal options of the Netherlands to switch from a whole territory approach to a designated area approach. It also investigates two alternative possibilities to create a more area-based implementation of the Nitrates Directive in the Netherlands within a whole territory approach. The alternatives are (i) a furth... Mehr ...