European sustainable development policy (1972-2005) : fostering a two-dimensional integration for more effective institutions

At the creation of the European Community in 1957, little attention was paid to environmental concerns. It’s only in 1997, after decades of debate, that the ‘Integration Principle’ became formally engraved in European treaties. This principle, requiring all policies to take environmental concerns into account, represents a major landmark in the institutionalisation of environmental policy. Yet the effects of this integration appear unclear. So does its meaning. Does the Integration Principle ensure an effective impact of sustainable development institutions in Europe? We aim to answer this question by casting light on the origin and significance of the Integration Principle. We recapitulate the policy events leading to the formal integration of environmental concerns within EU policy since the 1970s. We highlight its gradual extension from a horizontal (cross-sectoral) to a vertical (cross-societal) dimension and stress the challenges posed by the necessary cross-societal integration of sustainable development policy. As a step toward answering the above question, our hypothesis is that the effectiveness of an institution depends on its integration not only across policy or economic sectors but also across governance levels. We derive implications with regard to the importance of learning to eco-innovation.